The Second Tables of Stone

Deuteronomy 10

Moses tells how the Lord had him cut new tables of stone and build an ark to hold them, mentions the death of Aaron and the setting apart of the tribe of Levi to serve before the Lord, and calls Israel to circumcise their hearts, fear the Lord, and show love to the stranger.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAT that time the Lord said to me, Hew thee out two tables of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mount; and thou shalt make thee an ark of wood,

BrentonAt that time the Lord said to me, Hew for thyself two stone tables as the first, and come up to me into the mountain, and thou shalt make for thyself an ark of wood.

GreekἘν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, λάξευσον σεαυτῷ δύο πλάκας λιθίνας ὥσπερ τὰς πρώτας, καὶ ἀνάβηθι πρὸς μὲ εἰς τὸ ὄρος, καὶ ποιήσεις σεαυτῷ κιβωτὸν ξυλίνην.

KJVAt that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.

JPSAt that time the LORD said unto me: ‘Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto Me into the mount; and make thee an ark of wood.

Thomsonand thou shalt write on these tables the words which were on the first tables, which thou didst break, and shalt put them in the ark.

BrentonAnd thou shalt write upon the tables the words which were on the first tables which thou didst break, and thou shalt put them into the ark.

GreekΚαὶ γράψεις ἐπὶ τὰς πλάκας τὰ ῥήματα, ἃ ἦν ἐν ταῖς πλαξὶν ταῖς πρώταις ἃς συνέτριψας, καὶ ἐμβαλεῖς αὐτὰ εἰς τὴν κιβωτόν.

KJVAnd I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

JPSAnd I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which thou didst break, and thou shalt put them in the ark.’

ThomsonSo when I had made an ark of incorruptible wood, and hewed two tables of stone, like the first, and had gone up the mount with the two tables in my hand;

BrentonSo I made an ark of boards of incorruptible wood, and I hewed tables of stone like the first, and I went up to the mountain, and the two tables were in my hand.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησα κιβωτὸν ἐκ ξύλων ἀσήπτων, καὶ ἐλάξευσα τὰς πλάκας λιθίνας ὡς αἱ πρῶται, καὶ ἀνέβην εἰς τὸ ὄρος καὶ αἱ δύο πλάκες ἐπὶ ταῖς χερσί μου.

KJVAnd I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.

JPSSo I made an ark of acacia-wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand.

Thomsonand He had written on these tables, according to the former writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spoke to you at the mount, out of the midst of the fire; and the Lord had given them to me,

BrentonAnd he wrote upon the tables according to the first writing the ten commandments, which the Lord spoke to you in the mountain out of the midst of the fire, and the Lord gave them to me.

GreekΚαὶ ἔγραψεν ἐπὶ τὰς πλάκας κατὰ τὴν γραφὴν τὴν πρώτην τοὺς δέκα λόγους, οὓς ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν τῷ ὄρει ἐκ μέσου τοῦ πυρός, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὰς Κύριος ἐμοί.

KJVAnd he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

JPSAnd He wrote on the tables according to the first writing, the ten words, which the LORD spoke unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them unto me.

Thomsonand I had turned, and come down from the mount, and had put these tables in the ark which I had made, and they were there as the Lord commanded me,

BrentonAnd I turned and came down from the mountain, and I put the tables into the ark which I had made; and there they were, as the Lord commanded me.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπιστρέψας κατέβην ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους, καὶ ἐνέβαλον τὰς πλάκας εἰς τὴν κιβωτὸν ἣν ἐποίησα· καὶ ἦσαν ἐκεῖ, καθὰ ἐνετείλατό μοι Κύριος.

KJVAnd I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

JPSAnd I turned and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are, as the LORD commanded me.—

Thomsonthen the children of Israel removed out of Beroth, the country belonging to the children of Jakin, into Misidai, the country where Aaron died, and where he was buried, and Eleazar executed the office of priest in his stead.

BrentonAnd the children of Israel departed from Beeroth of the sons of Jakim to Misadai: there Aaron died, and there he was buried, and Eleazar his son was priest in his stead.

GreekΚαὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπῇραν ἐκ Βηρὼθ υἱῶν Ἰακεὶμ Μισαδαΐ· ἐκεῖ ἀπέθανεν Ἀαρὼν, καὶ ἐτάφη ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἱεράτευσεν Ἐλεάζὰρ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead.

JPSAnd the children of Israel journeyed from Beeroth-benejaakan to Moserah; there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead.

ThomsonThence they removed to Gadgad, and from Gadgad to Etabatha, a land abounding with streams of water.

BrentonThence they departed to Gadgad; and from Gadgad to Etebatha, a land wherein are torrents of water.

GreekἘκεῖθεν ἀπῇραν εἰς Γαδγάδ· καὶ ἀπὸ Γαδγὰδ εἰς Ἐτεβαθᾶ, γῆ χείμαῤῥοι ὑδάτων.

KJVFrom thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.

JPSFrom thence they journeyed unto Gudgod; and from Gudgod to Jotbah, a land of brooks of water.—

ThomsonNow the Lord, having at that time set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord, and to serve, and bless in His name, as they do at this day,

BrentonAt that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand near before the Lord, to minister and bless in his name to this day.

GreekἘν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ διέστειλε Κύριος τὴν φυλὴν τὴν Λευὶ, αἴρειν τὴν κιβωτὸν τῆς διαθήκης Κυρίου, παρεστάναι ἔναντι Κυρίου, λειτουργεῖν καὶ ἐπεύχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

KJVAt that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

JPSAt that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name, unto this day.

Thomsonfor this cause the Levites have no portion or lot among their brethren. The Lord is their portion, as He said to them.

BrentonTherefore the Levites have no part nor inheritance among their brethren; the Lord himself is their inheritance, as he said to them.

GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔστιν τοῖς Λευίταις μερὶς καὶ κλῆρος ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν· Κύριος αὐτὸς κλῆρος αὐτοῦ, καθότι εἶπεν αὐτῷ.

KJVWherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

JPSWherefore Levi hath no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God spoke unto him.—

ThomsonWhen I had been on the mount forty days, and forty nights, the Lord hearkened to me at that time also, for the Lord was not willing to destroy you utterly;

BrentonAnd I remained in the mount forty days and forty nights: and the Lord heard me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy you.

GreekΚᾀγὼ εἱστήκειν ἐν τῷ ὄρει τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας καὶ τεσσαράκοντα νύκτας. καὶ εἰσήκουσε Κύριος ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τούτῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησε Κύριος ἐξολοθρεῦσαι ὑμᾶς.

KJVAnd I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.

JPSNow I stayed in the mount, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me that time also; the LORD would not destroy thee.

Thomsonand the Lord said to me, Go, march before this people, and let them go in, and take possession of the Land which I solemnly promised their fathers to give them.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Go, set out before this people, and let them go in and inherit the land, which I sware to their fathers to give to them.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μέ, Βάδιζε, ἄπαρον ἐναντίον τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ εἰσπορευέσθωσαν καὶ κληρονομείτωσαν τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν δοῦναι αὐτοῖς.

KJVAnd the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.

JPSAnd the LORD said unto me: ‘Arise, go before the people, causing them to set forward, that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give unto them.’

ThomsonNow therefore, O Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, and to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul—

BrentonAnd now, Israel, what does the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, and to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;

GreekΚαὶ νῦν, Ἰσραήλ, τί Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου αἰτεῖται παρὰ σοῦ, ἀλλʼ ἢ φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, καὶ πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀγαπᾷν αὐτόν, καὶ λατρεύειν Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου,

KJVAnd now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

JPSAnd now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul;

Thomsonto keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and His rules of rectitude, which I this day command thee, that it may be well with thee?

Brentonto keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and his ordinances, all that I charge thee to-day, that it may be well with thee?

Greekφυλάσσεσθαι τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα αὐτοῦ, ὅσα ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἵνα εὖ σοι ἠ·;

KJVTo keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

JPSto keep for thy good the commandments of the LORD, and His statutes, which I command thee this day?

ThomsonBehold the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, belong to the Lord thy God, the earth also, and all that are therein.

BrentonBehold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the Lord thy God, the earth and all things that are in it.

GreekἸδοὺ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, ἡ γῆ καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν ἐν αὐτῇ.

KJVBehold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

JPSBehold, unto the LORD thy God belongeth the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that therein is.

ThomsonNevertheless the Lord made choice of your fathers to love them; and He chose you, their seed, after them, in preference to all the nations, as at this day.

BrentonOnly the Lord chose your fathers to love them, and he chose out their seed after them, even you, beyond all nations, as at this day.

GreekΠλὴν τοὺς πατέρας ὑμῶν προείλετο Κύριος ἀγαπᾷν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐξελέξατο τὸ σπέρμα αὐτῶν μετʼ αὐτοὺς, ὑμᾶς, παρὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην.

KJVOnly the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

JPSOnly the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, even you, above all peoples, as it is this day.

ThomsonCircumcise therefore the stubbornness of your hearts, and be no more stiffnecked.

BrentonTherefore ye shall circumcise the hardness of your heart, and ye shall not harden your neck.

GreekΚαὶ περιτεμεῖσθε τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν, καὶ τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν οὐ σκληρυνεῖτε.

KJVCircumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

JPSCircumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

ThomsonFor the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords—the God, great, and mighty, and awful. He respecteth not persons, nor taketh a bribe.

BrentonFor the Lord your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great, and strong, and terrible God, who does not accept persons, nor will he by any means accept a bribe:

GreekὉ γὰρ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν, οὗτος Θεὸς τῶν θεῶν, καὶ κύριος τῶν κυρίων, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ μέγας, καὶ ἰσχυρὸς, καὶ φοβερὸς, ὅστις οὐ θαυμάζει πρόσωπον, οὐδὲ οὐ μὴ λάβῃ δῶρον·

KJVFor the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

JPSFor the LORD your God, He is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awful, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.

ThomsonHe administereth justice to the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

Brentonexecuting judgment for the stranger and orphan and widow, and he loves the stranger to give him food and raiment.

Greekποιῶν κρίσιν προσηλύτῳ καὶ ὀρφανῷ καὶ χήρᾳ, καὶ ἀγαπᾷ τὸν προσήλυτον δοῦναι αὐτῷ ἄρτον καὶ ἱμάτιον.

KJVHe doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

JPSHe doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

ThomsonLove ye therefore the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

BrentonAnd ye shall love the stranger; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

GreekΚαὶ ἀγαπήσετε τὸν προσήλυτον· προσήλυτοι γὰρ ἦτε ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ.

KJVLove ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

JPSLove ye therefore the stranger; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

ThomsonThou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and cleave to Him, and swear by His name.

BrentonThou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt cleave to him, and shalt swear by his name.

GreekΚύριον τὸν Θεόν σου φοβηθήσῃ, καὶ αὐτῷ λατρεύσεις, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν κολληθήσῃ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ὀμῇ·

KJVThou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

JPSThou shalt fear the LORD thy God; Him shalt thou serve; and to Him shalt thou cleave, and by His name shalt thou swear.

ThomsonHe is thy boast; and He is thy God, who hath done for thee those great, and those marvellous things which thine eyes have seen.

BrentonHe is thy boast, and he is thy God, who has wrought in the midst of thee these great and glorious things, which thine eyes have seen.

GreekΟὗτος καύχημά σου, καὶ οὗτος Θεός σου, ὅστις ἐποίησεν ἐν σοὶ τὰ μεγάλα καὶ τὰ ἔνδοξα ταῦτα, ἃ ἴδοσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου.

KJVHe is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

JPSHe is thy glory, and He is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and tremendous things, which thine eyes have seen.

ThomsonWith seventy souls thy fathers went down to Egypt, and now the Lord thy God hath made thee like the stars of heaven for multitude.

BrentonWith seventy souls your fathers went down into Egypt; but the Lord thy God has made thee as the stars of heaven in multitude.

GreekἘν ἑβδομήκοντα ψυχαῖς κατέβησαν οἱ πατέρες σου εἰς Αἴγυπτον· νυνὶ δὲ ἐποίησέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ὡσεὶ τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῷ πλήθει.

KJVThy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

JPSThy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.