Israel at Mount Sinai
1 dOn the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before ethe mountain, 3 while Moses fwent up to God. gThe Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 h‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I ibore you jon eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my ktreasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a lkingdom of priests and a mholy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, n“All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you oin a thick cloud, that pthe people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”
When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and qconsecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them rwash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day sthe Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And tyou shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. uWhoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;1 whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet vsounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses wwent down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; xdo not go near a woman.”
16 yOn the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then zMoses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had adescended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and bthe whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 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 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, clest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord dbreak out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
The Ten Commandments
1 eAnd God spoke all these words, saying,
2 f“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 g“You shall have no other gods before2 me.
4 h“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 iYou shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jjealous God, kvisiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but lshowing steadfast love to thousands3 of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 m“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
8 n“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 oSix days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For pin six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and qrested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 r“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
14 t“You shall not commit adultery.
15 u“You shall not steal.
16 v“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 w“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
18 Now when all the people saw the xthunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid5 and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, y“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to ztest you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the athick darkness where God was.
Laws About Altars
22 And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that bI have talked with you from heaven. 23 cYou shall not dmake gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. 24 eAn altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. 25 fIf you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as useven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but vseventy-seven times.1
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to wsettle accounts with his servants.2 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand xtalents.3 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be ysold, with his wife and zchildren and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant4 fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and aforgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,5 and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 bAnd should not you have had cmercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the djailers,6 until he should pay all his debt. 35 eSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
