Deuteronomy 19:14-20:9

English Standard Version

Property Boundaries

^14 (A)“You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Laws Concerning Witnesses

¹⁵ “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. ^(B)Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. ¹⁶ If ^(C)a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, ¹⁷ then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, ^(D)before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. ¹⁸ The judges shall ^(E)inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, ^19 (F)then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil^[a] from your midst. ²⁰ And the rest ^(G)shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. ^21 (H)Your eye shall not pity. ^(I)It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Laws Concerning Warfare

20 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see ^(J)horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is ^(K)with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. ² And when you draw near to the battle, ^(L)the priest shall come forward and speak to the people ³ and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, ⁴ for the Lord your God is he who goes with you ^(M)to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ ⁵ Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Is there any man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. ⁶ And is there any man who has planted a vineyard and has not ^(N)enjoyed its fruit? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit. ^7 (O)And is there any man who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.’ ⁸ And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ^(P)‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’ ⁹ And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people.