God told the people ten strong principles/commands for living well

Alternative titles:God’s (Original) Ten Commandments. God’s laws tell how to live rightly

The Lord chose a man named Moses who led the Israelites from the country called Egypt, where they were slaves. The Lord saved them from the Egyptian army [warriors] that had chased after them.

Two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they travelled across the wilderness, until they came near to Mount [a mountain called] Sinai. They stopped there and set up their camp.

God spoke to Moses, telling him to go up on the mountain. There, God told Moses to speak to the Israelites. God said to him, “Tell my instructions to the Israelites. Tell them that I say:

“If you will obey me and respect the covenant I make with you, then when you pray to me I will answer you. Although I own [rule over] the whole earth [world], I will make you my own [holy] nation [people / worshippers].”

When Moses went down from the mountain to the Israelite camp, he gathered their leaders. He told them all that God had said and had promised.

So, after the Israelite leaders told these words to everyone, they replied, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do.”

Next, Moses led everyone out from their camp to the mountain’s foot [lowest part].

While they stood there, they saw a thick [dark] cloud come down from the sky onto the mountain.

They felt the mountain tremble [shake], and they saw fire and smoke on the mountain. Then they heard a loud noise like a trumpet blast.

God spoke to the Israelites, saying, “I am the Lord your God. If you will love and obey me, then I will always love you!

“You must not honor [serve or worship] any other gods. If you do, then I will punish you!

“You must not speak my name in a way that dishonors me!

“You must refrain from hard work [the seventh day] each week!”

The Lord also gave instruction on how to behave towards each other [people]. He said,

“You must honor your father and mother!”

“Do not commit murder!”

“Do not commit adultery [have sex with anyone other than your wife or husband]!”

“Do not steal [rob / defraud]!”

“Do not lie about anyone!”

“Do not desire to have someone else’s house, possessions [things] or wife.”

The Lord said to Moses, “Come [back] up on the mountain!” So, Moses did so.

Moses stayed on the mountain 40 days and nights.

The Lord carved his Ten Commandments on two stone tablets [flat stones] and gave these to Moses.

Whilst Moses remained on the mountain, the Israelites violated [broke] the agreement they had made with the Lord. They fashioned [made] a golden idol and began worshipping it.

The Lord said to Moses, “Hurry! Go back down the mountain, now!”

When Moses saw the Israelites worshipping their golden idol, he threw down the stone tablets, breaking them in pieces.

So the Lord said to Moses, cut two new tablets of stone, and go up the mountain again, where I will write the Ten Commandments again on them!”

On the mountain, God said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I am merciful and kind. I will forgive many sins. But I will punish [shame] those who do not repent!”

When Moses returned to the Israelites’ camp, he told them all the Lord’s commandments, and they agreed again to obey all of the Lord’s instructions [commandments].