Exodus, 20

1. Then God delivered all these commandments:

1. Then God spoke all these words. He said,

2. "I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.

2. 'I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you lived as slaves.

3. You shall not have other gods besides me.

3. 'You shall have no other gods to rival me.

4. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;

4. 'You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth.

5. you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation;

5. 'You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God and I punish a parent's fault in the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren among those who hate me;

6. but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

6. but I act with faithful love towards thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7. "You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain.

7. 'You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not leave unpunished anyone who misuses his name.

8. "Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.

8. 'Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

9. Six days you may labor and do all your work,

9. For six days you shall labour and do all your work,

10. but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your beast, or by the alien who lives with you.

10. but the seventh day is a Sabbath for Yahweh your God. You shall do no work that day, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your servants, men or women, nor your animals nor the alien living with you.

11. In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

11. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens, earth and sea and all that these contain, but on the seventh day he rested; that is why Yahweh has blessed the Sabbath day and made it sacred.

12. "Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you.

12. 'Honour your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.

13. "You shall not kill.

13. 'You shall not kill.

14. "You shall not commit adultery.

14. 'You shall not commit adultery.

15. "You shall not steal.

15. 'You shall not steal.

16. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

16. 'You shall not give false evidence against your neighbour.

17. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to him."

17. 'You shall not set your heart on your neighbour's house. You shall not set your heart on your neighbour's spouse, or servant, man or woman, or ox, or donkey, or any of your neighbour's possessions.'

18. When the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the mountain smoking, they all feared and trembled. So they took up a position much farther away

18. Seeing the thunder pealing, the lightning flashing, the trumpet blasting and the mountain smoking, the people were all terrified and kept their distance.

19. and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we shall die."

19. 'Speak to us yourself,' they said to Moses, 'and we will obey; but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die.'

20. Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid, for God has come to you only to test you and put his fear upon you, lest you should sin."

20. Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; God has come to test you, so that your fear of him, being always in your mind, may keep you from sinning.'

21. Still the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the cloud where God was.

21. So the people kept their distance while Moses approached the dark cloud where God was.

22. The LORD told Moses, "Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.

22. Yahweh said to Moses, 'Tell the Israelites this, "You have seen for yourselves how I have spoken to you from heaven.

23. Do not make anything to rank with me; neither gods of silver nor gods of gold shall you make for yourselves.

23. You must not make gods of silver to rival me, nor must you make yourselves gods of gold.

24. "An altar of earth you shall make for me, and upon it you shall sacrifice your holocausts and peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In whatever place I choose for the remembrance of my name I will come to you and bless you.

24. "You must make me an altar of earth on which to sacrifice your burnt offerings and communion sacrifices, your sheep and cattle. Wherever I choose to have my name remembered, I shall come to you and bless you.

25. If you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it of cut stone, for by putting a tool to it you desecrate it.

25. If you make me an altar of stone, do not build it of dressed stones; for if you use a chisel on it, you will profane it.

26. You shall not go up by steps to my altar, on which you must not be indecently uncovered.

26. You must not go up to my altar by steps, in case you expose your nakedness on them." '