Moses then gathered all the people of Israel again and said, "Listen carefully to the laws and commands I am declaring to you today. Learn them and live by them."
The Lord had made a covenant with His people at Mount Horeb. It was not just with their ancestors, but with all who were alive and standing there that day. God had spoken to them face to face from the fire on the mountain. Because they were afraid to go near the flames, Moses stood between God and the people to deliver the Lord's words.
God said, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of slavery. You must have no other gods besides Me. Do not make any image or idol of anything in heaven, on earth, or in the sea. Do not bow down to them or serve them, for I am a jealous God. I punish those who hate Me up to the fourth generation, but I show mercy to a thousand generations of those who love Me and obey My commands.
Do not misuse My name, for anyone who dishonors My name will not go unpunished. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. You may work for six days, but the seventh day belongs to the Lord your God. On that day, no one is to work—not you, your children, your servants, your animals, or any foreigner living among you—so that everyone may rest. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God rescued you with a mighty hand. That is why you must keep the Sabbath day holy.
Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long and prosper in the land the Lord is giving you. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. Do not desire your neighbor's wife, house, land, servant, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
These were the words God spoke to the whole nation from the mountain, surrounded by fire, cloud, and deep darkness. He added no more, but wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to Moses.
When the people heard God's voice from the fire, they were terrified. The elders and leaders came to Moses and said, "We have seen God's glory and heard His voice. But if we continue to hear His voice, we will die. No human can hear the voice of the living God and live. Go near and listen to what He says, and tell us everything. We will listen and obey."
The Lord heard what the people said and told Moses, "They have spoken well. If only they would always have hearts that fear Me and keep My commands, things would go well for them and for their children forever. Tell them to return to their tents, but you stay here with Me. I will give you the laws and commands for the people to follow in the land I am giving them."
So Moses instructed the Israelites to carefully obey all the Lord's commands. He told them never to turn aside from His ways, but to walk in obedience so that their days would be long and filled with peace and prosperity in the land God had promised.