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The LORD did not give the commandments to scare His people, but to help curb their sin (v. 20).

BibleGateway: Exodus 20:1-24

ESV Text: Exodus 20:1-24


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 3:2

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     1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

     12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

     18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

     22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 287:
That Man a Godly Life Might Live

Hymnary.org

— Organ Audio

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1. That man a Godly life might live, 
God did these Ten Commandments give 
By His true servant Moses, high 
Upon the Mount Sinai. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

2. I am thy God and Lord alone, 
No other God beside Me own; 
Put thy whole confidence in Me 
And love Me e’er cordially. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

3. By idle word and speech profane 
Take not My holy name in vain 
And praise but that as good and true 
Which I Myself say and do. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

4. Hallow the day which God hath blest 
That thou and all thy house may rest; 
Keep hand and heart from labor free 
That God may so work in thee. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

5. Give to thy parents honor due, 
Be dutiful, and loving, too, 
And help them when their strength decays, 
So shalt thou have length of days. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

6. In sinful wrath thou shalt not kill 
Nor hate nor render ill for ill; 
Be patient and of gentle mood, 
And to thy foe do thou good. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

7. Be faithful to thy marriage vows, 
Thy heart give only to thy spouse; 
Thy life keep pure, and lest thou sin, 
Use temperance and discipline. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

8. Steal not; all usury abhor 
Nor wring their life-blood from the poor, 
But open wide thy loving hand 
To all the poor in the land. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

9. Bear not false witness nor belie 
Thy neighbor by foul calumny. 
Defend his innocence from blame; 
With charity hide his shame. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

10. Thy neighbor’s house desire thou not, 
His wife, nor aught that he hath got, 
But wish that his such good may be 
As thy heart doth wish for thee. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

11. God these commandments gave therein 
To show thee, child of man, thy sin 
And make thee also well perceive 
How man unto God should live. 
Have mercy, Lord! 

12. Help us, Lord Jesus Christ, for we 
A Mediator have in Thee; 
Our works cannot salvation gain; 
Thy merit but endless pain. 
Have mercy, Lord!