The basis of laws in a civilized society constitute the "Ten Commandments of God". Those commandments were given for our benefit. To have a workable, decent, prosperous and free of war society these commandments must be followed. They were not given so that all our fun can be taken away. If the fun of a society is to behave in an evil selfish manner then you will find these commandments obsolete and ignored them. But if you want a healthy, happy society then the commandments must be follow by every person.
The LORD said to Moses, "Cut two stone tablets like the former, that I may write on them the commandments which were on the former tablets that you broke. Get ready for tomorrow morning, when you are to go up Mount Sinai and there present yourself to me on the top of the mountain. No one shall come up with you, and no one is even to be seen on any part of the mountain; even the flocks and the herds are not to go grazing toward this mountain."
Moses then cut two stone tablets like the former, and early the next morning he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets.
Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with him there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but punishing children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for their fathers' wickedness!"
Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."
"Here, then," said the LORD, "is the covenant I will make. Before the eyes of all your people I will work such marvels as have never been wrought in any nation anywhere on earth, so that this people among whom you live may see how awe-inspiring are the deeds which I, the LORD, will do at your side. But you, on your part, must keep the commandments I am giving you today. "I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Take care, therefore, not to make a covenant with these inhabitants of the land that you are to enter; else they will become a snare among you. Tear down their altars; smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their sacred poles.
You shall not worship any other god, for the LORD is 'the Jealous One'; a jealous God is he.
Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of that land; else, when they render their wanton worship to their gods and sacrifice to them, one of them may invite you and you may partake of his sacrifice. Neither shall you take their daughters as wives for your sons; otherwise, when their daughters render their wanton worship to their gods, they will make your sons do the same.
"You shall not make for yourselves molten gods.
"For six days you may work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; on that day you must rest even during the seasons of plowing and harvesting.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with them I have made a covenant with you and with Israel."
So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights, without eating any
food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Bible: Book of Exodus
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Notes
Sacred poles: "Ashera" was the name of a Canaanite goddess. In her honor wooden poles (asherot) were erected, just as stone pillars (massebot) were erected in honor of the god Baal. Both were placed near the altar in a Canaanite shrine.
The LORD is "the Jealous One": see note on Exodus 20:5. Some, by a slight emendation, render, "The LORD is jealous for his name." Cf Ezekiel 39:25.
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Dear God: I have failed to keep your commandments so many times. I have broken them knowingly and unknowingly. I am guilty of been proud, willful and many other sins of the flesh. Help me to mend my ways. Only you can give to me the strength I need to be as you want me to be. Thank you for your blessings and mercies.
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