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27 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, Keep all the commandments with which I charge you today.

And on the day when you pass over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall set up great stones and cover them with plaster.

And you shall write on them all the words of this law when you have passed over, that you may go into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

And when you have gone over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, as I command you this day, on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster.

And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not lift up any iron tool upon them.

You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of whole stones and offer burnt offerings on it to Him;

And you shall offer peace offerings, and eat there and rejoice before the Lord your God.

And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

And Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, Keep silence and hear, O Israel! This day you have become the people of the Lord your God.

10 So you shall obey the voice of the Lord your God and do His commandments and statutes which I command you today.

11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12 These [tribes] shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph’s [sons], and Benjamin.

13 And these [tribes] shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curse [for disobedience]: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 And the Levites shall declare with a loud voice to all the men of Israel:

15 Cursed is the man who makes a graven or molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret. All the people shall answer, Amen.

16 Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother. All the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed is he who moves [back] his neighbor’s landmark. All the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed is he who misleads a blind man on his way. All the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed is he who perverts the justice due to the sojourner or the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. All the people shall say, Amen.

20 Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he uncovers what belongs to his father. All the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed is he who lies with any beast. All the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed is he who lies with his half sister, whether his father’s or his mother’s daughter. All the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law. All the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed is he who slays his neighbor secretly. All the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed is he who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person. All the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed is he who does not support and give assent to the words of this law to do them [as the rule of his life]. All the people shall say, Amen.

The Law Inscribed on Stones

27 Now Moses, with the elders of Israel, commanded the people, saying: “Keep all the commandments which I command you today. And it shall be, on the day (A)when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that (B)you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, (C)‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ just as the Lord God of your fathers promised you. Therefore it shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that (D)on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, and you shall whitewash them with lime. And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; (E)you shall not use an iron tool on them. You shall build with [a]whole stones the altar of the Lord your God, and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. You shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and (F)rejoice before the Lord your God. And you shall (G)write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law.”

Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, “Take heed and listen, O Israel: (H)This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Therefore you shall obey the voice of the Lord your God, and observe His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

Curses Pronounced from Mount Ebal

11 And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, 12 “These shall stand (I)on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; 13 and (J)these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 “And (K)the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel: 15 (L)‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, [b]an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’

(M)“And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’

16 (N)‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

17 (O)‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

18 (P)‘Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

19 (Q)‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

20 (R)‘Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

21 (S)‘Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

22 (T)‘Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

23 (U)‘Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

24 (V)‘Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

25 (W)‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

26 (X)‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’

“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 27:6 uncut
  2. Deuteronomy 27:15 a detestable thing

The Law Written on Stones

27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, ‘Keep every command I am giving you today. When you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.(A) Write all the words of this law on the stones after you cross to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey,(B) as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. When you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to cover them with plaster. Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God – do not use any iron tool on them.(C) Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it. There you are to sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. Write clearly all the words of this law on the plastered stones.’

The Covenant Curses

Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, ‘Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and statutes I am giving you today.’

11 On that day Moses commanded the people, 12 ‘When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.(D) 14 The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

15 “The person who makes a carved idol or cast image, which is detestable to the Lord, the work of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret is cursed.”

And all the people will reply, “Amen! ”

16 “The one who dishonours his father or mother is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

17 “The one who moves his neighbour’s boundary marker is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

18 “The one who leads a blind person astray on the road is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

19 “The one who denies justice to a resident foreigner, a fatherless child, or a widow is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

20 “The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.”[a]

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

21 “The one who has sexual intercourse with any animal is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

22 “The one who sleeps with his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

23 “The one who sleeps with his mother-in-law is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

24 “The one who secretly kills his neighbour is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

25 “The one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

26 “Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.”

And all the people will say, “Amen! ”

Footnotes

  1. 27:20 Lit has uncovered the edge of his father’s garment; Ru 3:9; Ezk 16:8