9 "When you harvest your land, don't harvest right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings from the harvest. 10 Don't strip your vineyard bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am God, your God.
11 "Don't steal. "Don't lie. "Don't deceive anyone. 12 "Don't swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God. 13 "Don't exploit your friend or rob him. "Don't hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight. 14 "Don't curse the deaf; don't put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God. 15 "Don't pervert justice. Don't show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right. 16 "Don't spread gossip and rumors. "Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am God. 17 "Don't secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt. 18 "Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. "Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 19:9-18
Chapter Contents
laws.
There are some ceremonial precepts in this chapter, but most of these precepts are binding on us, for they are explanations of the ten commandments. It is required that Israel be a holy people, because the God of Israel is a holy God, verse 35. We must make conscience of obeying God's precepts. We are not to pick and choose our duty, but must aim at standing complete in all the will of God. And the nearer our lives and tempers are to the precepts of God's law, the happier shall we be, and the happier shall we make all around us, and the better shall we adorn the gospel.