會眾的資格

23 「凡睪丸受損或被閹割的,不可加入耶和華的會眾。

「私生子及其十代以內的子孫都不可加入耶和華的會眾。

「亞捫人或摩押人及其十代以內的子孫都不可加入耶和華的會眾。 因為在你們離開埃及的途中,他們沒有用水和食物款待你們,還雇用美索不達米亞的毗奪人——比珥的兒子巴蘭咒詛你們。 但你們的上帝耶和華不聽巴蘭的話,反而把咒詛變為祝福,因為祂愛你們。 你們一生一世永不可為他們謀求平安和好處。

「不可憎惡以東人,因為他們是你們的弟兄;也不可憎惡埃及人,因為你們曾經在埃及寄居。 他們的第三代子孫可以加入耶和華的會眾。

保持軍營聖潔的條例

「你們出兵征戰時,一定要遠離惡事。 10 如果有人因夢遺而不潔淨,他就要離開營地住在營外。 11 傍晚他要沐浴,日落才可以回營。 12 要在營外指定一個地方作方便之處。 13 你們每人都要有一把鏟子,便溺時要挖個洞,事後要掩埋。 14 因為你們的上帝耶和華常在營中巡視,要保護你們,擊敗你們的仇敵。軍營必須保持聖潔,免得祂在你們中間看到任何污穢之事,便離開你們。

其他條例

15 「如果有奴隸逃到你們那裡避難,不可把逃亡的奴隸送交他們的主人。 16 要讓他們在你們當中選擇他們喜歡的城邑與你們同住,不可壓迫他們。

17 「任何以色列人,不論男女,都不可做廟妓。 18 不可把男女廟妓的收入帶到你們上帝耶和華的殿還願,因為你們的上帝耶和華憎惡他們。

19 「你們借給同胞錢、糧食或其他任何東西,都不可收取利息。 20 你們可以向外族人收取利息,但不可向同胞收取。這樣,在你們將要佔領的土地上,你們的上帝耶和華必使你們凡事蒙福。

21 「如果你們向你們的上帝耶和華許願,不可遲遲不還願,因為你們的上帝耶和華必追討許願不還的罪。 22 如果你們不許願,反倒無罪; 23 但如果你們親口許了願,一定要向你們的上帝耶和華信守諾言。

24 「如果你們進了鄰居的葡萄園,可以隨意吃,但不可把葡萄放在籃子裡帶走。 25 如果你們進了鄰居的麥田,可以用手摘麥穗,但不可用鐮刀割麥子。

Exclusion From the Assembly

23 [a]No one who has been emasculated(A) by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord.

No one born of a forbidden marriage[b] nor any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.

No Ammonite(B) or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.(C) For they did not come to meet you with bread and water(D) on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam(E) son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim[c](F) to pronounce a curse on you.(G) However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse(H) into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves(I) you. Do not seek a treaty(J) of friendship with them as long as you live.(K)

Do not despise an Edomite,(L) for the Edomites are related to you.(M) Do not despise an Egyptian, because you resided as foreigners in their country.(N) The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the Lord.

Uncleanness in the Camp

When you are encamped against your enemies, keep away from everything impure.(O) 10 If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there.(P) 11 But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset(Q) he may return to the camp.(R)

12 Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. 13 As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. 14 For the Lord your God moves(S) about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy,(T) so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

Miscellaneous Laws

15 If a slave has taken refuge(U) with you, do not hand them over to their master.(V) 16 Let them live among you wherever they like and in whatever town they choose. Do not oppress(W) them.

17 No Israelite man(X) or woman is to become a shrine prostitute.(Y) 18 You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute[d] into the house of the Lord your God to pay any vow, because the Lord your God detests them both.(Z)

19 Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.(AA) 20 You may charge a foreigner(AB) interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the Lord your God may bless(AC) you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.

21 If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it,(AD) for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.(AE) 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty.(AF) 23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.

24 If you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but do not put any in your basket. 25 If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 23:1 In Hebrew texts 23:1-25 is numbered 23:2-26.
  2. Deuteronomy 23:2 Or one of illegitimate birth
  3. Deuteronomy 23:4 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  4. Deuteronomy 23:18 Hebrew of a dog