13 (A)“You shall not murder.

14 (B)“You shall not commit (C)adultery.

15 (D)“You shall not steal.

16 (E)“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 (F)“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; (G)you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

The People Afraid of God’s Presence

18 Now (H)all the people (I)witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain (J)smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, (K)“You speak with us, and we will hear; but (L)let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

20 And Moses said to the people, (M)“Do not fear; (N)for God has come to test you, and (O)that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near (P)the thick darkness where God was.

The Law of the Altar

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you (Q)from heaven. 23 You shall not make anything to be (R)with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. 24 An altar of (S)earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, (T)your sheep and your oxen. In every (U)place where I [a]record My name I will come to you, and I will (V)bless you. 25 And (W)if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you (X)use your tool on it, you have profaned it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your (Y)nakedness may not be exposed on it.’

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 20:24 cause My name to be remembered

13 “You shall not murder.(A)

14 “You shall not commit adultery.(B)

15 “You shall not steal.(C)

16 “You shall not give false testimony(D) against your neighbor.(E)

17 “You shall not covet(F) your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet(G) and saw the mountain in smoke,(H) they trembled with fear.(I) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(J) to us or we will die.”(K)

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(L) God has come to test(M) you, so that the fear(N) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(O)

21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(P) where God was.

Idols and Altars

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:(Q) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(R) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(S)

24 “‘Make an altar(T) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(U) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(V) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(W) you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool(X) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(Y) may be exposed.’