Exodus 20

And God spake all these words, saying,

With a voice filled with divine authority and love, God passionately voiced these words:

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

I am your God, who freed you from the chains of slavery in Egypt.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

You must have no other gods besides me; never let anything or anyone take my place in your heart.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Don't create or worship any physical representation, whether it's of something in the sky, on earth, or in the water below.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Don't bow down to them or serve them, because I, your God, am a jealous God. I punish the sin of those who hate me, bringing it on their children to the third and fourth generation.

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Showing endless compassion to thousands who adore me and follow my teachings.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Don't misuse God's name carelessly; He won't let such disrespect go unpunished.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Cherish your rest day, honor it with sacredness.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Work hard for six days, completing all your tasks.

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

The seventh day is God's day of rest. On this day, no one should work - not you, your children, your servants, your animals, or even any visitors in your home.

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

In just six days, God passionately crafted the heavens, earth, and sea, along with everything they contain. On the seventh day, He took a peaceful rest. That's why He declared the Sabbath day special and sacred.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Respect your mom and dad, so you may live a long, blessed life in the land God has given you.

Thou shalt not kill.

Never murder anyone.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Never commit adultery; be faithful in marriage.

Thou shalt not steal.

Never let your heart be swayed to take what isn't yours.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Never lie or spread untruths about those around you.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Don't long for anything that belongs to your neighbor: not his house, his wife, his servants, his ox or donkey, or anything else that is his.

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

Everyone witnessed the thunder, lightning, trumpet's sound, and the smoking mountain. Overwhelmed by fear, they retreated and watched from a distance.

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

They pleaded with Moses, "Talk to us directly, we'll listen. But don't let God speak to us directly, we're afraid we might not survive."

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

Moses reassured the people, "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him will stay with you and keep you from sinning."

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

The crowd stayed back, filled with awe, while Moses bravely approached the intense, mysterious darkness where God resided.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Tell the people of Israel, 'You've witnessed that I've communicated with you directly from the heavens.'"

Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

Don't create silver or gold idols, thinking they're divine. I am your only God.

An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

Create a simple altar for me from the earth. Offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on it, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered, I'll come to you and bless you.

And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

If you wish to honor me with a stone altar, don't use chiseled stone. The moment your tool touches it, it loses its purity.

Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

Do not go up to my altar by steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.