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Exodus 18-24
New American Standard Bible

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

18 Now (A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife (B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, 3 and her (C)two sons, [a]one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been (D)a stranger in a foreign land.” 4 And [b]the other was named [c](E)Eliezer, for he said, “(F)The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses [d]in the wilderness where he was camped, at (G)the mountain of God. 6 And he [e]sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” 7 Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and (H)he bowed down and (I)kissed him; and they (J)asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians (K)for Israel’s sake, all the (L)hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how (M)the Lord had rescued them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced over all (N)the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, [f]in rescuing [g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 So Jethro said, “(O)Blessed be the Lord who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that (P)the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, [h](Q)it was proven when they acted insolently against [i]the people.” 12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat [j]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

Jethro Counsels Moses

13 And it came about the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. 14 Now when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me (S)to inquire of God. 16 When they have a [k](T)dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between someone and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law then said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good. 18 (U)You will surely wear out, both yourself and [l]these people who are with you, because the [m]task is too heavy for you; (V)you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to [n]me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. [o]You be the people’s representative before God, and you (W)bring the [p]disputes to God, 20 (X)then admonish them about the statutes and the laws, and make known to them (Y)the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do. 21 Furthermore, you shall [q]select out of all the people (Z)able men (AA)who fear God, men of truth, those who (AB)hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, [r]of hundreds, [s]of fifties, and [t]of tens. 22 Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be (AC)that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and (AD)they will carry the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to [u]endure, and all [v]these people also will go to [w]their places in peace.”

24 So Moses listened [x]to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said. 25 Moses chose (AE)able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, [y]of hundreds, [z]of fifties, and [aa]of tens. 26 Then they judged the people at all times; (AF)they would bring the difficult matter to Moses, but they would judge every minor matter themselves. 27 Then Moses [ab](AG)said goodbye to his father-in-law, and [ac]Jethro went his way to his own land.

Moses on Sinai

19 (AH)In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, [ad]on that very day they came into the wilderness of (AI)Sinai. 2 When they set out from (AJ)Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of (AK)the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and (AL)the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘(AM)You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on (AN)eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 Now then, (AO)if you will indeed obey My voice and (AP)keep My covenant, then you shall be (AQ)My [ae]own possession among all the peoples, for (AR)all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me (AS)a kingdom of priests and (AT)a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

7 (AU)So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then (AV)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in (AW)a thick cloud, so that the (AX)people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and (AY)consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them (AZ)wash their garments; 11 and have them ready for the third day, for on (BA)the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 But you shall set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘[af]Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; (BB)whoever touches the mountain shall certainly be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but (BC)he shall certainly be stoned or [ag]shot through; whether animal or person, the violator shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to (BD)the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He also said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

16 (BE)So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were [ah]thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the [ai]foot of the mountain.

The Lord Visits Sinai

18 (BF)Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it (BG)in fire; and its smoke ascended like (BH)the smoke of a furnace, and (BI)the entire mountain [aj]quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and (BJ)God answered him with [ak]thunder. 20 Then (BK)the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down, [al]warn the people, so that (BL)they do not break through to the Lord to stare, and many of them [am]perish. 22 Also have the (BM)priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [an]warned us, saying, ‘(BN)Set boundaries around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “[ao]Go down and come up again, (BO)you and Aaron with you; but do not let the (BP)priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, or He will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments

20 Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “(BQ)I am the Lord your God, (BR)who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [ap]slavery.

3 “(BS)You shall have no other (BT)gods [aq]before Me.

4 “(BU)You shall not make for yourself [ar]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5 (BV)You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a (BW)jealous God, (BX)inflicting the [as]punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing [at]favor to (BY)thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “(BZ)You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not [au]leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember (CA)the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 (CB)For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it (CC)you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your [av]resident who [aw]stays with you. 11 (CD)For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “(CE)Honor your father and your mother, so that your (CF)days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you.

13 “(CG)You shall not murder.

14 “(CH)You shall not commit adultery.

15 “(CI)You shall not steal.

16 “(CJ)You shall not [ax]give false testimony against your (CK)neighbor.

17 “(CL)You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; (CM)you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male slave, or his female slave, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

18 And (CN)all the people were watching and hearing the [ay]thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 (CO)Then they said to Moses, “Speak [az]to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak [ba]to us, or we will die!” 20 However, Moses said to the people, “(CP)Do not be afraid; for God has come in order (CQ)to test you, and in order that (CR)the fear of Him may [bb]remain with you, so that you will not sin.” 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached (CS)the thick darkness where God was.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that (CT)I have spoken [bc]to you from heaven. 23 (CU)You shall not make other gods besides Me; (CV)gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. 24 You shall make (CW)an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your (CX)burnt offerings and your (CY)peace offerings, (CZ)your sheep and your oxen; in every place (DA)where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 And if you make an altar of stone for Me, (DB)you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your chisel on it, you will profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that (DC)your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’

Ordinances for the People

21 “Now these are the (DD)ordinances which you are to set before them:

2 “If you buy (DE)a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you. 3 If he comes [bd]alone, he shall leave [be]alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall leave with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave [bf]alone. 5 But (DF)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to [bg]God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an [bh]awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

7 “Now (DG)if a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to [bi]go free (DH)as the male slaves [bj]do. 8 If she is [bk]displeasing in the eyes of her master [bl]who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people, because of his [bm]unfairness to her. 9 And if he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her [bn]food, her clothing, or (DI)her conjugal rights. 11 But if he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go [bo]free for nothing, without payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 “(DJ)He who strikes someone so that he dies shall certainly be put to death. 13 (DK)Yet [bp]if he did not lie in wait for him, but (DL)God caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. 14 (DM)If, however, someone is enraged against his neighbor, so as to kill him in a cunning way, you are to take him even from My altar, to be put to death.

15 “And one who strikes his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

16 “Now (DN)one who [bq]kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his [br]possession, shall certainly be put to death.

17 “And (DO)one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

18 “Now if people have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but [bs]is confined to bed, 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his [bt]loss of time, and [bu]shall pay for his care until he is completely healed.

20 “And if someone strikes his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies [bv]at his hand, he shall [bw]be punished. 21 If, however, the slave [bx]survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; (DP)for the slave is his [by]property.

22 “Now if people struggle with each other and strike a pregnant woman so that [bz]she gives birth prematurely, but there is no injury, the guilty person shall certainly be fined as the woman’s husband [ca]may demand of him, and he shall (DQ)pay [cb]as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, (DR)then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 (DS)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, [cc]bruise for bruise.

26 “And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let [cd]the slave go free on account of the eye. 27 And if he [ce]knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let [cf]the slave go free on account of the tooth.

28 “Now if an ox gores a man or a woman [cg]to death, (DT)the ox shall certainly be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. 29 If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is [ch]demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is [ci]demanded of him. 31 Whether it gores a son or [cj]a daughter, it shall be done to him according to [ck]the same rule. 32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, [cl]the owner shall give his or her master [cm](DU)thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Property Rights

33 “Now if someone opens a pit, or [cn]digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall [co]give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.

35 “And if someone’s ox injures another’s ox so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its proceeds equally; and they shall also divide the dead ox. 36 Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he must make restitution of ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.

Property Rights

22 “[cp]If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and (DV)four sheep for the sheep— 2 [cq]If the (DW)thief is [cr]caught while [cs]breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account—A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be (DX)sold for his theft. 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his [ct]possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, (DY)he shall pay double.

5 “If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

7 “(DZ)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [cu]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [cv]caught, then the thief shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not [cw]caught, then the owner of the house shall [cx]appear before [cy](EA)the judges, to determine whether he [cz]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 For every [da]breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the [db]case of both parties shall come before [dc](EB)the judges; he whom [dd]the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an (EC)oath before the Lord shall be [de]taken by the two of them [df]that he has not [dg]laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14 “And if someone [dh]borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it [di]came by its hire.

Various Laws

16 “(ED)If a man seduces a virgin who is not [dj]betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [dk]dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [dl]pay money equal to the (EE)dowry for virgins.

18 “You shall not allow a (EF)sorceress to live.

19 “(EG)Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20 “(EH)He who sacrifices to [dm]any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [dn]utterly destroyed.

21 “(EI)You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 (EJ)You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and (EK)if he does cry out to Me, (EL)I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, (EM)and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 “(EN)If you lend money to My people, to the poor [do]among you, you are not to [dp]act as a creditor to him; you shall not [dq]charge him (EO)interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak (EP)as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his [dr]body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that (EQ)when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for (ER)I am gracious.

28 “You shall not [ds](ES)curse God, (ET)nor curse a ruler of your people.

29 “(EU)You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your [dt]wine. (EV)The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 (EW)You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; (EX)on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “(EY)You shall be holy people to Me, therefore (EZ)you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Various Laws

23 “(FA)You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a (FB)malicious witness. 2 You shall not follow [du]the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you [dv]testify in a dispute so as to join together with [dw]a crowd in order to (FC)pervert justice; 3 (FD)nor shall you [dx]show favor to a poor person in his dispute.

4 “(FE)If you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. 5 (FF)If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for [dy]its owner; you must arrange the load with him.

6 “(FG)You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7 (FH)Keep far from a false charge, and (FI)do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for (FJ)I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “(FK)You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and [dz]subverts the cause of the just.

9 “(FL)You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the [ea]feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Sabbath and the Land

10 “Now (FM)you shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11 but in the seventh year you shall let it [eb]rest and lie uncultivated, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the animal of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “(FN)For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as the stranger residing with you, may refresh themselves. 13 Now (FO)concerning everything which I have said to you, be careful; and (FP)do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard [ec]from your mouth.

Three National Feasts

14 “(FQ)Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. 15 You shall keep (FR)the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the (FS)month of Abib, for in [ed]that month you came out of Egypt. And [ee](FT)no one is to appear before Me empty-handed. 16 Also you shall keep (FU)the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year (FV)when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 (FW)Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord [ef]God.

18 “(FX)You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; (FY)nor is the fat of My [eg]feast to remain overnight until morning.

19 “You shall bring (FZ)the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.

“(GA)You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.

Conquest of the Land

20 “Behold, I am going to send (GB)an angel before you to guard you along the way and (GC)to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and obey his voice; (GD)do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your rebellion, since (GE)My name is in him. 22 But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then (GF)I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 (GG)For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. 24 (GH)You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; (GI)but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their (GJ)memorial stones in pieces. 25 (GK)And you shall serve the Lord your God, [eh]and He will bless your bread and your water; and (GL)I will remove sickness from your midst. 26 There will be no one miscarrying or (GM)unable to have children in your land; (GN)I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will (GO)send My terror ahead of you, and (GP)throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will (GQ)make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send (GR)hornets ahead of you so that they will (GS)drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from you. 29 (GT)I will not drive them out from you in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and the animals of the field become too numerous for you. 30 I will drive them out from you (GU)little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 (GV)I will set your boundary from the [ei]Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River; (GW)for I will hand over the inhabitants of the land to you, and you will (GX)drive them out from you. 32 (GY)You shall [ej]make no covenant with them (GZ)or with their gods. 33 (HA)They shall not live in your land, otherwise they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, (HB)it is certain to be a snare to you.”

People Affirm Their Covenant with God

24 Then He said to Moses, “(HC)Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, (HD)Nadab and Abihu, and (HE)seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall approach the Lord, but they shall not approach, nor shall the people come up with him.”

3 Then Moses came and reported to the people all the words of the Lord and all the [ek]ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “(HF)All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 And (HG)Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an (HH)altar [el]at the foot of the mountain with twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, (HI)and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 (HJ)Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took (HK)the Book of the Covenant and read it [em]as the people listened; and they said, “(HL)All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8 So (HM)Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold (HN)the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has [en]made with you [eo]in accordance with all these words.”

9 Then Moses went up [ep]with Aaron, (HO)Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and (HP)they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet [eq](HQ)there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, [er]as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not reach out with His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and (HR)they saw God, and they ate and drank.

12 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and [es]stay there, and (HS)I will give you the stone tablets [et]with the Law and the [eu]commandments which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses got up [ev]along with (HT)Joshua his [ew]servant, and Moses went up to (HU)the mountain of God. 14 But to the elders he said, “(HV)Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, (HW)Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever [ex]has a legal matter, have him approach them.” 15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and (HX)the cloud covered the mountain. 16 (HY)The glory of the Lord [ey]settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He (HZ)called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 (IA)And to the eyes of the sons of Israel, the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a (IB)consuming fire on the mountain top. 18 Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud [ez]as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain for (IC)forty days and forty nights.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Lit the name of the one was
  2. Exodus 18:4 Lit The name of the other was
  3. Exodus 18:4 Heb El-ezer; i.e., my God is help
  4. Exodus 18:5 Lit unto
  5. Exodus 18:6 Lit said
  6. Exodus 18:9 Lit in that He had delivered
  7. Exodus 18:9 Lit him
  8. Exodus 18:11 Lit in the thing in which they acted
  9. Exodus 18:11 Lit them
  10. Exodus 18:12 Lit bread
  11. Exodus 18:16 Lit matter
  12. Exodus 18:18 Lit this
  13. Exodus 18:18 Lit matter
  14. Exodus 18:19 Lit my voice
  15. Exodus 18:19 Lit You be for the people in front of God
  16. Exodus 18:19 Lit matters
  17. Exodus 18:21 Lit see
  18. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  19. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  20. Exodus 18:21 Lit leaders of
  21. Exodus 18:23 Lit stand
  22. Exodus 18:23 Lit this
  23. Exodus 18:23 Lit his
  24. Exodus 18:24 Lit to the voice of
  25. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  26. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  27. Exodus 18:25 Lit leaders of
  28. Exodus 18:27 Lit sent off his father-in-law
  29. Exodus 18:27 Lit he
  30. Exodus 19:1 Lit on this day
  31. Exodus 19:5 Or special treasure
  32. Exodus 19:12 Lit Take heed to yourselves
  33. Exodus 19:13 I.e., with arrows
  34. Exodus 19:16 Lit sounds
  35. Exodus 19:17 Lit lower part
  36. Exodus 19:18 Or trembled
  37. Exodus 19:19 Or a voice; lit a sound
  38. Exodus 19:21 Lit testify to
  39. Exodus 19:21 Lit fall
  40. Exodus 19:23 Lit testified to
  41. Exodus 19:24 Lit Go, descend
  42. Exodus 20:2 Lit slaves
  43. Exodus 20:3 Or besides Me
  44. Exodus 20:4 Or a carved image
  45. Exodus 20:5 I.e., punishment for the wrongdoing
  46. Exodus 20:6 Or faithfulness
  47. Exodus 20:7 Or hold him guiltless
  48. Exodus 20:10 Lit stranger
  49. Exodus 20:10 Lit is in your gates
  50. Exodus 20:16 Lit answer as a false witness against
  51. Exodus 20:18 Lit sounds
  52. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  53. Exodus 20:19 Lit with
  54. Exodus 20:20 Lit be before
  55. Exodus 20:22 Lit with
  56. Exodus 21:3 Lit by himself
  57. Exodus 21:3 Lit by himself
  58. Exodus 21:4 Lit by himself
  59. Exodus 21:6 Or the judges (who acted in God’s name)
  60. Exodus 21:6 I.e., a pointed tool
  61. Exodus 21:7 Lit go out
  62. Exodus 21:7 Lit go out
  63. Exodus 21:8 Lit bad
  64. Exodus 21:8 Another reading is so that he did not designate her
  65. Exodus 21:8 Lit dealing treacherously
  66. Exodus 21:10 Lit flesh
  67. Exodus 21:11 Lit out
  68. Exodus 21:13 Lit he who
  69. Exodus 21:16 Lit steals
  70. Exodus 21:16 Lit hand
  71. Exodus 21:18 Lit lies in
  72. Exodus 21:19 Lit his sitting
  73. Exodus 21:19 Lit healing, he shall cause to be healed
  74. Exodus 21:20 Lit under
  75. Exodus 21:20 Lit suffer vengeance
  76. Exodus 21:21 Lit stands
  77. Exodus 21:21 Lit money
  78. Exodus 21:22 Or an untimely birth occurs; lit her children come out
  79. Exodus 21:22 Lit lays on him
  80. Exodus 21:22 Lit by arbitration
  81. Exodus 21:25 Lit welt
  82. Exodus 21:26 Lit him go...his eye
  83. Exodus 21:27 Lit causes to fall
  84. Exodus 21:27 Lit him go...his tooth
  85. Exodus 21:28 Lit so that he dies
  86. Exodus 21:30 Lit laid on him
  87. Exodus 21:30 Lit laid on him
  88. Exodus 21:31 Lit gores a daughter
  89. Exodus 21:31 Lit this judgment
  90. Exodus 21:32 Lit he
  91. Exodus 21:32 About 15 oz. or 425 gm
  92. Exodus 21:33 Lit if a man digs
  93. Exodus 21:34 Lit give back
  94. Exodus 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Heb
  95. Exodus 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Heb
  96. Exodus 22:2 Lit found
  97. Exodus 22:2 I.e., at night; cf. v 3
  98. Exodus 22:4 Lit hand
  99. Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
  100. Exodus 22:7 Lit found
  101. Exodus 22:8 Lit found
  102. Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
  103. Exodus 22:8 Or God
  104. Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
  105. Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
  106. Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
  107. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  108. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  109. Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
  110. Exodus 22:11 Lit if
  111. Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
  112. Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
  113. Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss
  114. Exodus 22:16 A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together
  115. Exodus 22:16 I.e., bride-price
  116. Exodus 22:17 Lit weigh out silver
  117. Exodus 22:20 Lit the gods
  118. Exodus 22:20 Lit put under the ban
  119. Exodus 22:25 Lit with
  120. Exodus 22:25 Lit be
  121. Exodus 22:25 Lit lay upon
  122. Exodus 22:27 Lit skin
  123. Exodus 22:28 Or revile
  124. Exodus 22:29 Lit juice
  125. Exodus 23:2 Lit many
  126. Exodus 23:2 Or answer
  127. Exodus 23:2 Lit many
  128. Exodus 23:3 Lit honor
  129. Exodus 23:5 Lit him
  130. Exodus 23:8 Or distorts the words
  131. Exodus 23:9 Lit soul
  132. Exodus 23:11 Lit drop
  133. Exodus 23:13 Lit on
  134. Exodus 23:15 Lit it
  135. Exodus 23:15 Lit they shall not
  136. Exodus 23:17 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  137. Exodus 23:18 Or festival
  138. Exodus 23:25 Or that He may bless
  139. Exodus 23:31 Lit Sea of Reeds
  140. Exodus 23:32 Lit cut
  141. Exodus 24:3 Or judgments
  142. Exodus 24:4 Lit beneath
  143. Exodus 24:7 Lit in the ears of the people;
  144. Exodus 24:8 Lit cut
  145. Exodus 24:8 Lit on all
  146. Exodus 24:9 Lit and
  147. Exodus 24:10 Lit like a pavement
  148. Exodus 24:10 Lit and as
  149. Exodus 24:12 Lit be
  150. Exodus 24:12 Lit and
  151. Exodus 24:12 Lit commandment
  152. Exodus 24:13 Lit and
  153. Exodus 24:13 Or minister
  154. Exodus 24:14 Lit is a master of matters
  155. Exodus 24:16 Lit dwelt
  156. Exodus 24:18 Lit and
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Exodus 18-24
New International Version

Jethro Visits Moses

18 Now Jethro,(A) the priest of Midian(B) and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.(C)

2 After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah,(D) his father-in-law Jethro received her 3 and her two sons.(E) One son was named Gershom,[a] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”;(F) 4 and the other was named Eliezer,[b](G) for he said, “My father’s God was my helper;(H) he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

5 Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, together with Moses’ sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain(I) of God. 6 Jethro had sent word to him, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down(J) and kissed(K) him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships(L) they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved(M) them.

9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things(N) the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, “Praise be to the Lord,(O) who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods,(P) for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”(Q) 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law,(R) brought a burnt offering(S) and other sacrifices(T) to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal(U) with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence(V) of God.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.(W) 16 Whenever they have a dispute,(X) it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”(Y)

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.(Z) 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(AA) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(AB) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(AC) and show them the way they are to live(AD) and how they are to behave.(AE) 21 But select capable men(AF) from all the people—men who fear(AG) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(AH)—and appoint them as officials(AI) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(AJ) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(AK) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders(AL) of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(AM) 26 They served as judges(AN) for the people at all times. The difficult cases(AO) they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.(AP)

27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.(AQ)

At Mount Sinai

19 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt(AR)—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.(AS) 2 After they set out from Rephidim,(AT) they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.(AU)

3 Then Moses went up to God,(AV) and the Lord called(AW) to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,(AX) and how I carried you on eagles’ wings(AY) and brought you to myself.(AZ) 5 Now if you obey me fully(BA) and keep my covenant,(BB) then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.(BC) Although the whole earth(BD) is mine, 6 you[c] will be for me a kingdom of priests(BE) and a holy nation.’(BF) These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders(BG) of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak.(BH) 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”(BI) So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud,(BJ) so that the people will hear me speaking(BK) with you and will always put their trust(BL) in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate(BM) them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes(BN) 11 and be ready by the third day,(BO) because on that day the Lord will come down(BP) on Mount Sinai(BQ) in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits(BR) for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned(BS) or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn(BT) sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.”(BU)

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.(BV) 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain(BW) from sexual relations.”

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder(BX) and lightning, with a thick cloud(BY) over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.(BZ) Everyone in the camp trembled.(CA) 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.(CB) 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke,(CC) because the Lord descended on it in fire.(CD) The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace,(CE) and the whole mountain[d] trembled(CF) violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice(CG) of God answered(CH) him.[e]

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai(CI) and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see(CJ) the Lord and many of them perish.(CK) 22 Even the priests, who approach(CL) the Lord, must consecrate(CM) themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”(CN)

23 Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai,(CO) because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits(CP) around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’”

24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron(CQ) up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”(CR)

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

The Ten Commandments(CS)

20 And God spoke(CT) all these words:(CU)

2 “I am the Lord your God,(CV) who brought you out(CW) of Egypt,(CX) out of the land of slavery.(CY)

3 “You shall have no other gods before[f] me.(CZ)

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image(DA) in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship(DB) them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,(DC) punishing the children for the sin of the parents(DD) to the third and fourth generation(DE) of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand(DF) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(DG)

8 “Remember the Sabbath(DH) day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,(DI) 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath(DJ) to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,(DK) the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested(DL) on the seventh day.(DM) Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother,(DN) so that you may live long(DO) in the land(DP) the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.(DQ)

14 “You shall not commit adultery.(DR)

15 “You shall not steal.(DS)

16 “You shall not give false testimony(DT) against your neighbor.(DU)

17 “You shall not covet(DV) 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(DW) and saw the mountain in smoke,(DX) they trembled with fear.(DY) They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak(DZ) to us or we will die.”(EA)

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.(EB) God has come to test(EC) you, so that the fear(ED) of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”(EE)

21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness(EF) 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:(EG) 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me;(EH) do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.(EI)

24 “‘Make an altar(EJ) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings(EK) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name(EL) to be honored, I will come to you and bless(EM) 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(EN) on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts(EO) may be exposed.’

21 “These are the laws(EP) you are to set before them:

Hebrew Servants(EQ)(ER)

2 “If you buy a Hebrew servant,(ES) he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,(ET) without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’(EU) 6 then his master must take him before the judges.[g](EV) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce(EW) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.(EX)

7 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. 8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[h] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.(EY) 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.(EZ) 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place(FA) I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately,(FB) that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.(FC)

15 “Anyone who attacks[i] their father or mother is to be put to death.

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death,(FD) whether the victim has been sold(FE) or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.(FF)

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist[j] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.(FG)

22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[k] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands(FH) and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,(FI) 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth,(FJ) hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death,(FK) and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up(FL) and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded.(FM) 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels[l](FN) of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

33 “If anyone uncovers a pit(FO) or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.

35 “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up,(FP) the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

Protection of Property

22 [m]“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back(FQ) five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

2 “If a thief is caught breaking in(FR) at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;(FS) 3 but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution,(FT) but if they have nothing, they must be sold(FU) to pay for their theft. 4 If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession(FV)—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.(FW)

5 “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution(FX) from the best of their own field or vineyard.

6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks(FY) of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.(FZ)

7 “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping(GA) and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.(GB) 8 But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges,(GC) and they must[n] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.[o](GD) The one whom the judges declare[p] guilty must pay back double to the other.

10 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping(GE) and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11 the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath(GF) before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. 12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution(GG) must be made to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.(GH)

14 “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.(GI) 15 But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.(GJ)

Social Responsibility

16 “If a man seduces a virgin(GK) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price,(GL) and she shall be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

18 “Do not allow a sorceress(GM) to live.

19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal(GN) is to be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god(GO) other than the Lord must be destroyed.[q](GP)

21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner,(GQ) for you were foreigners(GR) in Egypt.

22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.(GS) 23 If you do and they cry out(GT) to me, I will certainly hear their cry.(GU) 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.(GV)

25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.(GW) 26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,(GX) return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in?(GY) When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.(GZ)

28 “Do not blaspheme God[r](HA) or curse(HB) the ruler of your people.(HC)

29 “Do not hold back offerings(HD) from your granaries or your vats.[s]

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.(HE) 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.(HF) Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.(HG)

31 “You are to be my holy people.(HH) So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;(HI) throw it to the dogs.

Laws of Justice and Mercy

23 “Do not spread false reports.(HJ) Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.(HK)

2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice(HL) by siding with the crowd,(HM) 3 and do not show favoritism(HN) to a poor person in a lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s(HO) ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.(HP) 5 If you see the donkey(HQ) of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

6 “Do not deny justice(HR) to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 Have nothing to do with a false charge(HS) and do not put an innocent(HT) or honest person to death,(HU) for I will not acquit the guilty.(HV)

8 “Do not accept a bribe,(HW) for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.

9 “Do not oppress a foreigner;(HX) you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

Sabbath Laws

10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused.(HY) Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “Six days do your work,(HZ) but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.(IA)

13 “Be careful(IB) to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods;(IC) do not let them be heard on your lips.(ID)

The Three Annual Festivals

14 “Three times(IE) a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.

15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread;(IF) for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv,(IG) for in that month you came out of Egypt.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.(IH)

16 “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest(II) with the firstfruits(IJ) of the crops you sow in your field.

“Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering(IK) at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.(IL)

17 “Three times(IM) a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.

18 “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast.(IN)

“The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning.(IO)

19 “Bring the best of the firstfruits(IP) of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.(IQ)

God’s Angel to Prepare the Way

20 “See, I am sending an angel(IR) ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.(IS) 21 Pay attention to him and listen(IT) to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive(IU) your rebellion,(IV) since my Name(IW) is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do(IX) all that I say, I will be an enemy(IY) to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites,(IZ) and I will wipe them out. 24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship(JA) them or follow their practices.(JB) You must demolish(JC) them and break their sacred stones(JD) to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God,(JE) and his blessing(JF) will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness(JG) from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren(JH) in your land. I will give you a full life span.(JI)

27 “I will send my terror(JJ) ahead of you and throw into confusion(JK) every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.(JL) 28 I will send the hornet(JM) ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites(JN) out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals(JO) too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession(JP) of the land.

31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea[t] to the Mediterranean Sea,[u] and from the desert to the Euphrates River.(JQ) I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out(JR) before you. 32 Do not make a covenant(JS) with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare(JT) to you.”

The Covenant Confirmed

24 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron,(JU) Nadab and Abihu,(JV) and seventy of the elders(JW) of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach(JX) the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,(JY) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”(JZ) 4 Moses then wrote(KA) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar(KB) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars(KC) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings(KD) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings(KE) to the Lord. 6 Moses(KF) took half of the blood(KG) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed(KH) against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant(KI) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”(KJ)

8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people(KK) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant(KL) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders(KM) of Israel went up 10 and saw(KN) the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,(KO) as bright blue as the sky.(KP) 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw(KQ) God, and they ate and drank.(KR)

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone(KS) with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

13 Then Moses set out with Joshua(KT) his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain(KU) of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur(KV) are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute(KW) can go to them.”

15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud(KX) covered it, 16 and the glory(KY) of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai.(KZ) For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.(LA) 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire(LB) on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty(LC) days and forty nights.(LD)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:3 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
  2. Exodus 18:4 Eliezer means my God is helper.
  3. Exodus 19:6 Or possession, for the whole earth is mine. 6 You
  4. Exodus 19:18 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint and all the people
  5. Exodus 19:19 Or and God answered him with thunder
  6. Exodus 20:3 Or besides
  7. Exodus 21:6 Or before God
  8. Exodus 21:8 Or master so that he does not choose her
  9. Exodus 21:15 Or kills
  10. Exodus 21:18 Or with a tool
  11. Exodus 21:22 Or she has a miscarriage
  12. Exodus 21:32 That is, about 12 ounces or about 345 grams
  13. Exodus 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1 is numbered 21:37, and 22:2-31 is numbered 22:1-30.
  14. Exodus 22:8 Or before God, and he will
  15. Exodus 22:9 Or before God
  16. Exodus 22:9 Or whom God declares
  17. Exodus 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  18. Exodus 22:28 Or Do not revile the judges
  19. Exodus 22:29 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  20. Exodus 23:31 Or the Sea of Reeds
  21. Exodus 23:31 Hebrew to the Sea of the Philistines
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Exodus 17
Exodus 25
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