THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
The tenth behest is this: ‘Thou shalt not desire a thing that is thy neighbour’s.’ This behest forbids the will to have other men’s thing(s) for a wicked reason.
In this behest is forbidden envy of other men’s goods, or of other men’s grace. For the same envy comes of sinful covetousness to have the goods or the very grace that he sees in others. And the same covetousness, when the consent and the thoughts [are] thereto, is deadly sin, and against this behest. Nevertheless light covetousness to have other men’s things for a good reason is no sin. And if there is any evil desire, without will and without consent to harm others, it is no sin; and if there is sin, it is light sin.
These are the ten behests, whereof the three first direct us well to God; the other seven direct us to our neighbour. These ten behests are incumbent on each one that hath reason and age, to know and to do. For whoever acts thereagainst wittingly, sins deadly.