Deuteronomy 5

1 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, mediator of God’s covenant] summoned all Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] and said to them: Hear [listen carefully, obey], O Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], the statutes [laws, decrees, regulations] and ordinances [judgments, precepts] that I declare [speak, proclaim] in your hearing [in your presence, to your ears] this day [at this present time, now]. Learn [study, understand, teach] them and observe [keep, guard, watch over] them carefully [diligently, with attention]. word study 2 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme One] made [cut, established] a covenant [promise, agreement] with us [together, in unity] at [in the location of] Horeb [Mount Sinai, the mountain of God]. word study 3 He did not [in no way] make this [divine] covenant [promise, agreement] with our fathers [ancestors, forefathers], but with all of us [we, these, the community] who are alive [living, present] here [in this place, now] today [at this time, in this day]. word study 4 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke [to communicate, to declare] with you face [in front of, in the presence of] to face [person to person, directly] out of the fire [the midst of the flame] on the mountain [a place of divine encounter]. word study 5 At that time [when you were afraid, in that moment] I was standing [as a mediator, intermediary] between the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and you to declare [to tell, to show] to you the word [a matter, affair, or thing] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], because you were afraid [in awe, reverent fear] of the fire [burning, flame] and would not go up [ascend, rise] the mountain [a place of encounter]. And He said [spoke, commanded, promised]: word study 6 “I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God], who brought [led, freed] you out of the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], out of the house [dwelling place, place of bondage] of slavery [servants, bondage]. word study 7 You shall have [none except] no other gods [but me, in my presence] before [in the presence of, in front of] Me [the one supreme God, Elohim]. word study 8 You shall not [under any circumstances] make for yourself an idol [graven image] in the form of anything [any likeness, image] in the heavens [the sky, celestial realm] above, on the earth [land, ground] below, or in the waters [liquid, aquatic realm] beneath [under, underneath the earth]. word study 9 You shall not bow down [prostrate yourself, worship] to them or worship [serve, pay homage to] them; for I, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler], am a jealous [zealous, passionately exclusive] God, visiting [reckoning, overseeing] the iniquity [moral evil, sin] of the fathers [ancestors, forefathers] on their children [descendants, offspring] to the third [great-grandchildren] and fourth [great-great-grandchildren] generations of those who hate [intensely dislike, reject] Me, word study 10 but showing [doing, demonstrating] loving devotion [kindness, mercy] to a thousand [many, numerous] generations of those who love [have affection for, are devoted to] Me and keep [obey, guard, protect] My commandments [laws, precepts]. word study 11 You shall not take [misuse, speak carelessly] the name [identity, character] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme one] in vain [for an evil purpose, emptily], for the LORD [Yehovah] will not leave [hold guiltless, acquit] anyone unpunished [without consequences, unclean] who takes [lifts, uses] His name [reputation, honor] in vain [for a deceitful purpose, falsely]. word study 12 Observe [keep, remember, watch over] the Sabbath day [day of rest, seventh day] by keeping [to protect, attend to, guard] it holy [set apart, consecrated], as the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] has commanded [given orders, appointed] you. word study 13 Six [a period of six days] days you shall labor [to serve, work diligently] and do [to make, accomplish] all [everything, completely] your work [occupation, employment], word study 14 but the seventh [sabbath of rest] day is a Sabbath [a day of rest and worship] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God, on which you must not do any work [labor or employment]—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant [male slave or servant] or maidservant [female slave or servant], nor your ox or donkey [beast of burden] or any of your livestock [animals or cattle], nor the foreigner [sojourner or temporary resident] within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest [have a cessation from labor] as you do. word study 15 Remember [to recall and mark] that you were a slave [servant, in bondage] in the land [country, territory] of Egypt, and that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true God] brought you out of there [from that place, with deliverance] with a mighty [strong, powerful] hand and an outstretched [stretched out, extended] arm. That is why [for this reason, therefore] the LORD your God has commanded [given orders, appointed] you to keep [observe, honor] the Sabbath day [day of rest, seventh day]. word study 16 Honor [show respect, esteem highly] your father [parent, ancestor] and your mother [female parent, nurturer], as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] has commanded [given orders, appointed] you, so that your days [periods of life, time on earth] may be long [prolonged, extended] and that it may go well [be good, joyful] with you in the land [earth, ground, territory] that the LORD your God is giving [providing, bestowing] you. word study 17 You shall not [without cause, or unjustly] murder [kill, take someone’s life, implying a strong negation]. word study 18 You shall not [under any circumstances] commit adultery [be unfaithful, have sex with someone other than your spouse]. word study 19 You shall not [do not, neither] steal [take something secretly, plunder, or deceive]. word study 20 You shall not [under any circumstance] bear [give or provide] false [deceptive, untrue, or vain] witness [testimony or evidence] against [to the harm or injury of] your neighbor [close friend, companion, or fellow citizen]. word study 21 You shall not [desire or lust after] covet your neighbor’s [close friend or companion] wife. You shall not [have a strong longing for] covet your neighbor’s house [dwelling place or family home] or field [land or property], or his manservant [male slave or servant] or maidservant [female slave or servant], or his ox [cattle or livestock] or donkey [beast of burden], or anything [all or everything] that belongs to your neighbor [fellow or associate].” word study 22 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke these commandments [words or things, like matters or affairs] in a loud [great, with a strong sound] voice to your whole assembly [congregation, group of people gathered together] out of the fire [burning, flame], the cloud, and the deep [thick, heavy] darkness [gloom or ominous sky] on the mountain [a hill]; He added [increased, did more] nothing more [no additional words or commands]. And He wrote [recorded, inscribed] them on two [a pair, dual] tablets [polished stones, possibly made of stone, wood, or metal] of stone [a rock, a weight, or a precious gem] and gave [put, set, delivered] them to me. word study 23 And when you heard [with attention and obedience] the voice [a sound or utterance, a means of communication] out of the darkness [a state of spiritual or moral gloom, misery] while the mountain [a hill] was blazing [consuming, burning intensely] with fire [burning, flame], all [everything, the entirety] the heads [chiefs, leaders] of your tribes [clans, families] and your elders [respected, experienced leaders] approached [came near, drew close to] me, word study 24 and you said, “Behold [look, pay attention], the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] our God [Elohim, the supreme God] has shown [revealed, made known] us His glory [great honor, splendor] and greatness [magnificence, power], and we have heard [listened, obeyed] His voice [sound, utterance] out of the fire [burning, flame]. Today [this day, at this time] we have seen [perceived, understood] that a man [human being, Adam] can live [have life, exist] even if God [the Creator, Almighty] speaks [communicates, converses] with him [in personal relationship, intimately]. word study 25 But now [at this time, in this moment], why should we die [perish, meet our end]? For this great [enormous, exceedingly large] fire [burning, flame] will consume us [devour, destroy], and we will die [meet our demise, succumb], if we hear [listen to, obey] the voice [sound, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] our God [Elohim, the one true God] any longer [still, again]. word study 26 For who [what person, any human] of all [every, the whole] flesh [humanity, mortal beings] has heard [listened to, obeyed] the voice [sound, utterance] of the living [eternal, supreme] God [Elohim, the one true Deity] speaking [communicating, declaring] out of the fire [flames, divine presence], as we have [in the same manner, with the same result], and survived [lived, remained alive]? word study 27 Go near [approach, come closer] and listen [hear and obey, give attention] to all that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the one supreme God] says. Then you can tell us everything [all that is spoken, the entire message] the LORD our God tells you; we will listen [hear and heed, give ear] and obey [do, carry out, make].” word study 28 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] heard [to hear and listen, often implying attention and obedience] the words [voice or sound, a matter or affair] you spoke [to communicate, to express thoughts or feelings] to me, and He said [to command, to promise, or to speak] to me, “I have heard [to hear and listen, often implying attention and obedience] the words [voice or sound, a matter or affair] that these people [a nation or community] have spoken [to communicate, to express thoughts or feelings] to you. They have done [to be pleasing or joyful, to make something or someone sound, beautiful, or happy] well [good, pleasing, or joyful] in all [everything, the whole] that they have spoken [to communicate, to express thoughts or feelings]. word study 29 If only they had such a [willing and obedient] heart [the innermost part of a person] to fear [revere and stand in awe of] Me and keep [obey and guard] all My commandments [divine laws and guidelines] always [at all times, throughout their lives], so that it might be well [pleasant and joyful, a state of blessedness] with them and with their children [descendants and posterity] forever [for all eternity, without end]. word study 30 Go [to walk, move from one place to another] and tell [say, speak, command] them: ‘Return [to turn back, come back] to your [own, personal] tents [nomadic homes, tabernacles].’ word study 31 But you [as My chosen leader] stand here [in My presence, at this specific location] with Me, that I may speak [communicate, impart My will] to you all the commandments [divine instructions, laws] and statutes [decrees, ordinances] and ordinances [judgments, regulations] you are to teach [guide, instruct] them to follow [obey, adhere to] in the land [the promised territory, a place of inheritance] that I am giving [bestowing, granting] them to possess [occupy, take control of].” word study 32 So be careful [take heed, observe diligently] to do as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] has commanded [given orders, appointed] you; you are not to turn aside [depart, stray] to the right [the direction of privilege] or to the left [the direction of rejection]. word study 33 You must walk [follow, obey] in all [every, the whole] the ways [paths, manner of life] that the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] has commanded [given orders, appointed] you, so that you may live [have life, be revived] and prosper [be pleasing, have good] and prolong [make long, extend] your days [time, period of life] in the land [country, territory] that you will possess [take control, occupy]. word study