Deuteronomy 5 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The Ten Commandments

(Exodus 20.1-17)

5 Moses called together the people of Israel and said:

Today I am telling you the laws and teachings that you must follow, so listen carefully. 2 The Lord our God made an agreement with our nation at Mount Sinai.[a] 3 That agreement wasn't only with[b] our ancestors but with us, who are here today. 4 The Lord himself spoke to you out of the fire, 5 but you were afraid of the fire and refused to go up the mountain. So I spoke with the Lord for you, then I told you that he had said:

6 I am the Lord your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves.

7 Do not worship any god except me.

8 (A) Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. 9 (B) Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me and worship idols, I will punish your families for three or four generations. 10 But if you love me and obey my laws, I will be kind to your families for thousands of generations.

11 (C) Do not misuse my name.[c] I am the Lord your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.

12 (D) Show respect for the Sabbath Day—it belongs to me. 13 (E) You have six days when you can do your work, 14 but the seventh day of the week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day—not you, your children, your oxen or donkeys or any other animal, not even those foreigners who live in your towns. And don't make your slaves do any work. 15 This special day of rest will remind you that I reached out my mighty arm and rescued you from slavery in Egypt.

16 (F) Respect your father and mother, and you will live a long and successful life in the land I am giving you.

17 (G) Do not murder.

18 (H) Be faithful in marriage.

19 (I) Do not steal.

20 (J) Do not tell lies about others.

21 (K) Do not desire to possess anything that belongs to another person—not a house, a wife, a husband, a slave, an ox, a donkey, or anything else.

22 (L) When we were gathered at the mountain, the Lord spoke to us in a loud voice from the dark fiery cloud. The Lord gave us these commands, and only these. Then he wrote them on two flat stones and gave them to me.

The People Were Afraid

(Exodus 20.18-21)

Moses said to Israel:

23 When fire blazed from the mountain, and you heard the voice coming from the darkness, your tribal leaders came to me 24 and said:

Today the Lord our God has shown us how powerful and glorious he is. He spoke to us from the fire, and we learned that people can live, even though God speaks to them. 25 But we don't want to take a chance on being killed by that terrible fire, and if we keep on hearing the Lord's voice, we will die. 26 Has anyone else ever heard the only true God speaking from fire, as we have? And even if they have, would they live to tell about it? 27 Moses, go up close and listen to the Lord. Then come back and tell us, and we will do everything he says.

28 The Lord heard you and said:

Moses, I heard what the people said to you, and I approve. 29 I wish they would always worship me with fear and trembling and be this willing to obey me! Then they and their children would always enjoy a successful life.

30 Now, tell them to return to their tents, 31 but you come back here to me. After I tell you my laws and teachings, you will repeat them to the people, so they can obey these laws in the land I am giving them.

Moses said:

32 Israel, you must carefully obey the Lord's commands. 33 Follow them, because they make a path that will lead to a long successful life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Footnotes

  1. 5.2 Mount Sinai: See the note at 1.1-5.
  2. 5.3 wasn't only with: Hebrew “wasn't with.”
  3. 5.11 misuse my name: Probably includes breaking promises, telling lies after swearing to tell the truth, using the Lord's name as a curse word or a magic formula, and trying to control the Lord by using his name.

Cross references

  1. 5.8,9 : Lv 26.1; Dt 4.15-18; 27.14-26.
  2. 5.9,10 : Ex 34.6,7; Nu 14.18; Dt 7.9,10.
  3. 5.11 : Lv 19.12.
  4. 5.12 : Ex 16.23-30; 31.12-15.
  5. 5.13,14 : Ex 23.12; 31.14,15; 34.21; 35.2; Lv 23.3.
  6. 5.16 a : Dt 27.14-26; Si 3.1-16; Mt 15.4; 19.19; Mk 7.10; 10.19; Lk 18.20; Eph 6.2; b Eph 6.3.
  7. 5.17 : Gn 9.5,6; Lv 24.17; Mt 5.21; 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20; Ro 13.9; Jas 2.11.
  8. 5.18 : Lv 20.10; Mt 5.27; 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20; Ro 13.9; Jas 2.11.
  9. 5.19 : Lv 19.11; Mt 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20; Ro 13.9.
  10. 5.20 : Ex 23.1; Mt 19.18; Mk 10.19; Lk 18.20.
  11. 5.21 : Ro 7.7; 13.9.
  12. 5.22-27 : He 12.18,19.

You Might Also Like:

Deuteronomy 5 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

5 And Moses calleth unto all Israel, and saith unto them, `Hear, Israel, the statutes and the judgments which I am speaking in your ears to-day, and ye have learned them, and have observed to do them. 2 Jehovah our God made with us a covenant in Horeb; 3 not with our fathers hath Jehovah made this c...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

5 And Moses called all Israel, and said to him, Hear, thou Israel, the ceremonies and dooms, which I speak today in your ears; learn ye them, and fulfilleth in deed. (And Moses called all the Israelites, and said to them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and laws, or judgements, which I speak today in y...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - World English Bible (WEB)

5 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears today, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.” 2 Yahweh our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Yahweh didn’t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, ev...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - The Voice (VOICE)

5 Moses: Listen, Israel, as I proclaim these rules and decrees directly to you today! Learn them, and put them into practice. 2 The Eternal our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 The Eternal didn’t make that covenant just with our parents; He also made it with all of us who are alive here tod...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

The Ten Words5 Moses called to all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances that I am speaking in your hearing today, learn them and make sure to do them. 2 Adonai our God cut a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers has Adonai cut this covenant but with...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Ten Commandments5 And Moses summoned all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your hearing this day, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lo...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Ten Commandments5 And Moses summoned all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your hearing this day, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lo...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Ten Commandments5 Moses convened all Israel, and said to them:Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this co...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Ten Commandments5 Moses convened all Israel and said to them:“Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.(A)3 Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this co...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community5 Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them! 2 “The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Sinai.[a] 3 The Lord did ...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New Life Version (NLV)

God’s Ten Great Laws5 Then Moses called all Israel, and said to them, “Listen, O Israel, to the Laws which I speak in your hearing today. Learn them and be careful to live by them. 2 The Lord our God made an agreement with us at Mount Sinai. 3 The Lord did not make this agreement with our fathers,...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Ten Commandments Reviewed(A)5 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. 2 (B)The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord (C)did not ma...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The Ten Commandments5 Moses summoned all Israel and said:Hear, Israel, the decrees and the laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant, but with...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New International Version (NIV)

The Ten Commandments(A)5 Moses summoned all Israel and said:Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws(B) I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant(C) with us at Horeb.(D) 3 It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant, bu...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Ten Commandments5 Moses sent for all the Israelites. Here is what he said to them.Israel, listen to me. Here are the rules and laws I’m announcing to you today. Learn them well. Be sure to obey them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Horeb. 3 He didn’t make it only with our p...
Read More

Deuteronomy 5 - New English Translation (NET)

The Opening Exhortation5 Then Moses called all the people of Israel together and said to them:[a] “Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances that I am about to deliver to you today; learn them and be careful to keep them! 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 He[b] did not ma...
Read More