The Beginning

⁷ Then the Lord God formed^(A) a man^[a](B) from the dust^(C) of the ground^(D) and breathed into his nostrils the breath^(E) of life,^(F) and the man became a living being.^(G)

¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I am who I am.^[a] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am^(A) has sent me to you.’”

² God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord.^{(A) 3} I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,^[a](B) but by my name^(C) the Lord^[b](D) I did not make myself fully known to them.

¹⁹ When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen^[c] went into the sea,^(AA) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.^{(AB) 20} Then Miriam^(AC) the prophet,^(AD) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels^(AE) and dancing.^{(AF) 21} Miriam sang^(AG) to them:

The Waters of Marah and Elim

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert^(AJ) of Shur.^(AK) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.^{(AL) 23} When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.^[d](AM)) ²⁴ So the people grumbled^(AN) against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”^(AO)

²⁵ Then Moses cried out^(AP) to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw^(AQ) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.^{(AR) 26} He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep^(AS) all his decrees,^(AT) I will not bring on you any of the diseases^(AU) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals^(AV) you.”

²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped^(AW) there near the water.

The Ten Commandments^(A)

20 And God spoke^(B) all these words:^(C)

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

²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.^(AJ) God has come to test^(AK) you, so that the fear^(AL) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”^(AM)

²¹ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness^(AN) 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:^{(AO) 23} Do not make any gods to be alongside me;^(AP) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.^(AQ)

²⁴ “‘Make an altar^(AR) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings^(AS) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name^(AT) to be honored, I will come to you and bless^(AU) 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^(AV) on it. ²⁶ And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts^(AW) may be exposed.’

² “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings^(A) the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name.^(B) I am the Lord.^(C)

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a](A)