Add parallel Print Page Options

If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God chooses. You shall come to the priests who are Levites and to the judge who shall be in those days. You shall inquire, and they shall give you the verdict. 10 You shall do according to the decisions of the verdict which they shall give you from that place which Yahweh chooses. You shall observe to do according to all that they shall teach you. 11 According to the decisions of the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do. You shall not turn away from the sentence which they announce to you, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 The man who does presumptuously in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before Yahweh your God, or to the judge, even that man shall die. You shall put away the evil from Israel. 13 All the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Read full chapter

Deciding Difficult Cases

“If a case is too difficult for you to decide with respect to bloodshed,[a] civil claims,[b] assault and battery,[c] or other matters of dispute within your courts,[d] bring[e] it to the place that the Lord your God will choose. Present the case[f] to the Levitical priest or the judge at that time. When you have inquired and they have announced the verdict, 10 carry out the verdict that was declared to you at the place that the Lord will choose. Carefully observe all of their instructions to you 11 in accordance with what the Law says and in accordance with the verdict that will be handed to you. You must not deviate from the verdict that they declare to you either to the right or to the left. 12 If a man presumptuously disregards the priest who is serving the Lord your God there, or the judge, that person must die so you will purge evil from Israel. 13 Then all the people who hear will be afraid and will not act presumptuously again.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit. blood versus blood
  2. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit. justice versus justice
  3. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit. wound versus wound
  4. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit. gates
  5. Deuteronomy 17:8 Lit. stand and go up
  6. Deuteronomy 17:9 The Heb. lacks Present the case