9 "When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10 It is the same with your grape crop-do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.
11 "Do not steal. "Do not deceive or cheat one another. 12 "Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord . 13 "Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. "Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay. 14 "Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord . 15 "Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly. 16 "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. "Do not stand idly by when your neighbor's life is threatened. I am the Lord . 17 "Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin. 18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord .
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.