Deuteronomy 11:26-12:12

New International Version

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing^(A) and a curse^(B)— ²⁷ the blessing^(C) if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; ²⁸ the curse if you disobey^(D) the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods,^(E) which you have not known. ²⁹ When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim^(F) the blessings, and on Mount Ebal^(G) the curses.^{(H) 30} As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh,^(I) in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal.^{(J) 31} You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession^(K) of the land the Lord your God is giving^(L) you. When you have taken it over and are living there, ³² be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.

The One Place of Worship

12 These are the decrees^(M) and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you to possess—as long as you live in the land.^{(N) 2} Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains,^(O) on the hills and under every spreading tree,^(P) where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. ³ Break down their altars, smash^(Q) their sacred stones and burn^(R) their Asherah^(S) poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names^(T) from those places.

⁴ You must not worship the Lord your God in their way.^{(U) 5} But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name^(V) there for his dwelling.^(W) To that place you must go; ⁶ there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes^(X) and special gifts, what you have vowed^(Y) to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.^{(Z) 7} There, in the presence^(AA) of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice^(AB) in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

⁸ You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit,^{(AC) 9} since you have not yet reached the resting place^(AD) and the inheritance^(AE) the Lord your God is giving you. ¹⁰ But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving^(AF) you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest^(AG) from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. ¹¹ Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name^(AH)—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord.^{(AI) 12} And there rejoice^(AJ) before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites^(AK) from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance^(AL) of their own.