Deuteronomy 27

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Inscribed Stones and Altar on Mount Ebal

27 Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged all the people as follows: “Keep the entire commandment that I am commanding you today. ²On the day that you cross over the Jordan into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and cover them with plaster.^(A) ³You shall write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over, to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.^(B) ⁴So when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones about which I am commanding you today on Mount Ebal, and you shall cover them with plaster. ⁵And you shall build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool.^(C) ⁶You must build the altar of the Lord your God of unhewn^[a] stones. Then offer up burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God; ⁷make sacrifices of well-being, and eat them there, rejoicing before the Lord your God. ⁸You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very clearly.”

⁹Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel! This very day you have become the people of the Lord your God.^(D) ¹⁰Therefore obey the Lord your God, observing his commandments and his statutes that I am commanding you today.”

Twelve Curses

¹¹The same day Moses charged the people as follows: ¹²“When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.^(E) ¹³And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴Then the Levites shall declare in a loud voice to all the Israelites,

¹⁵“ ‘Cursed be anyone who makes an idol or casts an image, anything abhorrent to the Lord, the work of an artisan, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall respond, saying, ‘Amen!’^(F)

¹⁶“ ‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors father or mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(G)

¹⁷“ ‘Cursed be anyone who moves a neighbor’s boundary marker.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(H)

¹⁸“ ‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind person on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(I)

¹⁹“ ‘Cursed be anyone who deprives an alien, an orphan, or a widow of justice.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(J)

²⁰“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has violated his father’s rights.’^[b] All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(K)

²¹“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(L)

²²“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(M)

²³“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(N)

²⁴“ ‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down a neighbor in secret.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(O)

²⁵“ ‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(P)

²⁶“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by observing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’^(Q)

Footnotes

27.6 Heb whole
27.20 Heb uncovered his father’s skirt

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. ²The 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. ³Once 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. ⁴Once 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 ⁵and 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. ⁷Offer up well-being sacrifices and eat them there, celebrating in the Lord your God’s presence. ⁸Make sure to write all the words of this Instruction on the stones plainly and clearly. ⁹Then 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. ¹⁰So 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

¹¹That same day Moses commanded the people: ¹²Once 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. ¹³And these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal for the cursing: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴The 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.”