Read Exodus 20:1-17

Read Exodus 20:1-17

God spoke, and these were his words: ²“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves.

3 “Worship no god but me.

4 “Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. ⁵Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation. ⁶But I show my love to thousands of generations^u of those who love me and obey my laws.

7 “Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name.

8 “Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. ⁹You have six days in which to do your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work—neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country. ¹¹In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the sea, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy.

12 “Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you.

13 “Do not commit murder.

14 “Do not commit adultery.

15 “Do not steal.

16 “Do not accuse anyone falsely.

17 “Do not desire another man’s house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns.”

Think

Psalm 19 invites us to use the law to examine ourselves; reveal our hidden faults.

Pray

Read through the commandments prayerfully

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4  20.4, 5: Ex 34:17; Lv 19:4; 26:1; Dt 4:15–18; 27:15

⁵ 20.4, 5: Ex 34:17; Lv 19:4; 26:1; Dt 4:15–18; 27:15
20.5, 6: Ex 34:6, 7; Nu 14:18; Dt 7:9, 10

⁶ 20.4, 5: Ex 34:17; Lv 19:4; 26:1; Dt 4:15–18; 27:15
20.5, 6: Ex 34:6, 7; Nu 14:18; Dt 7:9, 10

^u thousands of generations; or thousands.

7  20.7: Lv 19:12

8  20.8: Ex 16:23–30; 31:12–14

⁹ 20.9, 10: Ex 23:12; 31:15; 34:21; 35:2; Lv 23:3

¹⁰ 20.9, 10: Ex 23:12; 31:15; 34:21; 35:2; Lv 23:3

¹¹ 20.11: Gn 2:1–3; Ex 31:17

12  20.12 a: Dt 27:16; Mt 15:4; 19:19; Mk 7:10; 10:19; Lk 18:20; Eph 6:2
20.12 b: Eph 6:3

13  20.13: Gn 9:6; Lv 24:17; Mt 5:21; 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Ro 13:9; Jas 2:11

14  20.14: Lv 20:10; Mt 5:27; 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Ro 13:9; Jas 2:11

15  20.15: Lv 19:11; Mt 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20; Ro 13:9; Jas 2:11

16  20.16: Ex 23:1; Mt 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20

17  20.17: Ro 7:7; 13:9