Deuteronomy 27
New Living Translation
The Altar on Mount Ebal
27 Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey all these commands that I am giving you today. 2 When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today.
5 “Then build an altar there to the Lord your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool. 6 Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God. 7 Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before the Lord your God. 8 You must clearly write all these instructions on the stones coated with plaster.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: “O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 So you must obey the Lord your God by keeping all these commands and decrees that I am giving you today.”
Curses from Mount Ebal
11 That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people: 12 “When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people. 13 And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.
14 “Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel:
15 ‘Cursed is anyone who carves or casts an idol and secretly sets it up. These idols, the work of craftsmen, are detestable to the Lord.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives, for he has violated his father.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.’
And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
Deuteronomy 27
Common English Bible
Stones of the Instruction
27 Then Moses and Israel’s elders commanded the people:
Keep all of the commandment that I am giving you right now. 2 The same day you cross the Jordan River to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster. 3 Once you have crossed over, write on the stones all the words of this Instruction because you will have entered[a] the land the Lord your God is giving to you—a land full of milk and honey—exactly as the Lord, your ancestors’ God, promised you. 4 Once you have crossed over the Jordan River, set up these stones that I’m telling you about right now on Mount Ebal. Cover them with plaster 5 and build an altar there for the Lord your God—an altar of stones that haven’t been cut with iron tools. 6 (You must build the Lord your God’s altar with uncut stones.) Then offer up on that altar entirely burned sacrifices to the Lord your God. 7 Offer up well-being sacrifices and eat them there, celebrating in the Lord your God’s presence. 8 Make sure to write all the words of this Instruction on the stones plainly and clearly. 9 Then Moses and the levitical priests said to all Israel: Quiet down and listen, Israel! This very moment you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 So obey the Lord your God’s voice. Do his commandments and his regulations that I’m giving you right now.
Ceremony on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal
11 That same day Moses commanded the people: 12 Once you have crossed over the Jordan River, the following tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal for the cursing: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 The Levites will address every individual Israelite with a loud voice:
15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol or an image—things detestable to the Lord, made by artisans—and sets it up secretly.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”[b]
16 “Cursed is anyone who belittles their father or mother.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
17 “Cursed is anyone who tampers with their neighbor’s property lines.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
18 “Cursed is anyone who misleads a blind person on a road.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
19 “Cursed is anyone who obstructs the legal rights of immigrants, orphans, or widows.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
20 “Cursed is anyone who has sex with his father’s wife, because that exposes his father’s private matters.”[c]
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
21 “Cursed is anyone who has sex with any kind of animal.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
22 “Cursed is anyone who has sex with his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
23 “Cursed is anyone who has sex with his mother-in-law.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
24 “Cursed is anyone who kills his neighbor in secret.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts money to kill an innocent person.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
26 “Cursed is anyone who doesn’t support the words of this Instruction by carrying them out.”
All the people will reply: “We agree!”
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 27:3 Or in order that you might enter; Heb uncertain
- Deuteronomy 27:15 Heb Amen; also in the following verses
- Deuteronomy 27:20 Or because that uncovers his father’s skirt
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible