The World English Bible (WEB) Part 15

16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.

17:1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to Yahweh's commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 17:2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink."

Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?"

17:3 The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"

17:4 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, "What shall I do with these people?

They are almost ready to stone me."

17:5 Yahweh said to Moses, "Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go. 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in h.o.r.eb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 17:7 He called the name of the place Ma.s.sah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, "Is Yahweh among us, or not?"

17:8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 17:9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek.

Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with G.o.d's rod in my hand."

17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 17:11 It happened, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side.

His hands were steady until sunset. 17:13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 17:14 Yahweh said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehea.r.s.e it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky."

17:15 Moses built an altar, and called its name Yahweh our Banner. 17:16 He said, "Yah has sworn: 'Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.'"

18:1 Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that G.o.d had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. 18:2 Jethro, Moses' father-in- law, received Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her away, 18:3 and her two sons. The name of one son was Gershom, for Moses said, "I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land". 18:4 The name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, "My father's G.o.d was my help and delivered me from Pharaoh's sword." 18:5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the Mountain of G.o.d. 18:6 He said to Moses, I, your father-in-law Jethro, have come to you with your wife, and her two sons with her. 18:7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed and kissed him. They asked each other of their welfare, and they came into the tent. 18:8 Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardships that had come on them on the way, and how Yahweh delivered them. 18:9 Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. 18:10 Jethro said, "Blessed be Yahweh, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 18:11 Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all G.o.ds because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them." 18:12 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for G.o.d. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before G.o.d.

18:13 It happened on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from the morning to the evening. 18:14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, "What is this thing that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning to evening?"

18:15 Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of G.o.d. 18:16 When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of G.o.d, and his laws." 18:17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. 18:18 You will surely wear away, both you, and this people that is with you; for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to perform it yourself alone. 18:19 Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and G.o.d be with you. You represent the people before G.o.d, and bring the causes to G.o.d. 18:20 You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 18:21 Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear G.o.d: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

18:22 Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you. 18:23 If you will do this thing, and G.o.d commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."

18:24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 18:25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 18:26 They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard causes to Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 18:27 Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went his way into his own land.

19:1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 19:2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain. 19:3 Moses went up to G.o.d, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 19:4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

19:7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him. 19:8 All the people answered together, and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do."

Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh. 19:9 Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh. 19:10 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, 19:11 and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.

19:12 You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, 'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. 19:13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain."

19:14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 19:15 He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Don't have s.e.xual relations with a woman."

19:16 It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. 19:17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet G.o.d; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. 19:18 Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19:19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and G.o.d answered him by a voice. 19:20 Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

19:21 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish. 19:22 Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break forth on them."

19:23 Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.'"

19:24 Yahweh said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aaron up with you, but don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break forth on them."

19:25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.

20:1 G.o.d spoke all these words, saying, 20:2 "I am Yahweh your G.o.d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 20:3 You shall have no other G.o.ds before me.

20:4 "You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 20:5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your G.o.d, am a jealous G.o.d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 20:6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

20:7 "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your G.o.d in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 20:9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your G.o.d. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 20:11 for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your G.o.d gives you.

20:13 "You shall not murder.

20:14 "You shall not commit adultery.

20:15 "You shall not steal.

20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

20:18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance. 20:19 They said to Moses, "Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don't let G.o.d speak with us, lest we die."

20:20 Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for G.o.d has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin."

20:21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where G.o.d was.

20:22 Yahweh said to Moses, "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 20:23 You shall most certainly not make alongside of me G.o.ds of silver, or G.o.ds of gold for yourselves. 20:24 You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you. 20:25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it. 20:26 Neither shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.'

21:1 "Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them.

21:2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years and in the seventh he shall go out free without paying anything. 21:3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he is married, then his wife shall go out with him. 21:4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 21:5 But if the servant shall plainly say, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;' 21:6 then his master shall bring him to G.o.d, and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever.

21:7 "If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go out as the male servants do. 21:8 If she doesn't please her master, who has married her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her. 21:9 If he marries her to his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 21:10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marital rights. 21:11 If he doesn't do these three things for her, she may go free without paying any money.

21:12 "One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death, 21:13 but not if it is unintentional, but G.o.d allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee. 21:14 If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

21:15 "Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.

21:16 "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

21:17 "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

21:18 "If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn't die, but is confined to bed; 21:19 if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.

21:20 "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his property.

21:22 "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow. 21:23 But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 21:25 burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.

21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. 21:27 If he strikes out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.

21:28 "If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not be held responsible. 21:29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and its owner shall also be put to death. 21:30 If a ransom is laid on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is laid on him. 21:31 Whether it has gored a son or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. 21:32 If the bull gores a male servant or a female servant, thirty shekels of silver shall be given to their master, and the ox shall be stoned.

21:33 "If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and doesn't cover it, and a bull or a donkey falls into it, 21:34 the owner of the pit shall make it good. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall be his.