Exodus 20 (MSG)

26 verses · The Message · Contemporary paraphrase

The Message by Eugene Peterson presents the Bible in the rhythms and idioms of contemporary American English. More than a translation, it is a paraphrase designed to help readers experience Scripture's impact as if hearing it for the first time.

Exodus Chapter 20 contains 26 verses and is presented here in the The Message (MSG), which uses a contemporary paraphrase approach. Read the full text below, compare with other translations, or navigate to any of the 40 chapters in Exodus.

NIVKJVESVNLTNASB
Chapter 19Chapter 21

1God spoke all these words:

2I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.

3No other gods, only me.

4No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim.

5Don't bow down to them and don't serve them because I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me.

6But I'm unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.

7No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won't put up with the irreverant use of his name.

8Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Work six days and do everything you need to do.

10But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don't do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town.

11For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day.

12Honor your father and mother so that you'll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

13No murder.

14No adultery.

15No stealing.

16No lies about your neighbor.

17No lusting after your neighbor's house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that is your neighbor's.

18All the people, experiencing the thunder and lightning, the trumpet blast and the smoking mountain, were afraid—they pulled back and stood at a distance.

19They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we'll listen, but don't have God speak to us or we'll die."

20Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin."

21The people kept their distance while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

22God said to Moses, "Give this Message to the People of Israel: 'You've experienced firsthand how I spoke with you from Heaven.

23Don't make gods of silver and gods of gold and then set them alongside me.

24Make me an earthen Altar. Sacrifice your Whole-Burnt-Offerings, your Peace-Offerings, your sheep, and your cattle on it. Every place where I cause my name to be honored in your worship, I'll be there myself and bless you.

25If you use stones to make my Altar, don't use dressed stones. If you use a chisel on the stones you'll profane the Altar.

26Don't use steps to climb to my Altar because that will expose your nakedness.'

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About This Translation

What is Exodus 20 in the MSG?

Exodus 20 in the The Message (MSG) contains 26 verses. The MSG uses a contemporary paraphrase approach, first published in 2002.

How does the MSG translate Exodus 20 differently?

The The Message uses contemporary paraphrase, rendering the text as a modern paraphrase in contemporary idioms. Compare this with the NIV (dynamic equivalence) version of Exodus 20 for a different perspective.

How many verses are in Exodus 20 (MSG)?

Exodus Chapter 20 contains 26 verses in the The Message. The book of Exodus has 40 chapters total.

Exodus (MSG) — All 40 Chapters