Deuteronomy 27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Law Written on Stones
27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, “Keep every command I am giving you today. 2 At the time you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must set up large stones and cover them with plaster.(A) 3 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 Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4 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. 5 Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God—you must not use any iron tool on them.(C) 6 Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it. 7 There you are to sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. 8 Write clearly all the words of this law on the plastered stones.”
The Covenant Curses
9 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 dishonors his father or mother is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
17 ‘The one who moves his neighbor’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 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 neighbor 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
- Deuteronomy 27:20 Lit has uncovered the edge of his father’s garment; Ru 3:9; Ezk 16:8
Deuteronomy 27
Evangelical Heritage Version
The Altar for Cursing and Blessing
27 Moses and the elders of Israel gave the following orders to the people: Keep the entire set of commands that I am giving you today.
2 At the time that you cross the Jordan into the land that the Lord your God is giving to you, set up large stones and coat them with lime plaster. 3 Write on them all the words of this law when you cross over to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 When you cross over the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal and coat them with lime plaster, as I am commanding you today.
5 Build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar made of stones. Do not shape them with an iron tool. 6 Build the altar of the Lord your God with whole, uncut stones, and offer whole burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God.
8 Write clearly and carefully all of the words of this law on the stones.
9 Moses and the priests, who are Levites, also spoke the following to all Israel:
Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the voice of the Lord your God and carry out his commandments and statutes that I am giving you today.
11 Then Moses gave this command to the people that day:
12 The following tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 The following will stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
The Curses From Mount Ebal
14 The Levites will testify to every person of Israel with a loud voice:
15 Cursed is the man that makes a carved image or a molten metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a work of the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up secretly.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
16 Cursed is anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
17 Cursed is anyone who moves the boundary marker of his neighbor.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
18 Cursed is anyone who leads astray a blind man on his way.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
19 Cursed is anyone who perverts the justice due to an alien who resides among you, or justice due to the fatherless or a widow.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
20 Cursed is any man who lies down with his father’s wife, because he has removed the skirt that is reserved for his father.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
21 Cursed is anyone who lies down with any animal.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
22 Cursed is any man who lies down with his sister, either the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
23 Cursed is any man who lies down with his mother-in-law.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
24 Cursed is anyone who strikes down his neighbor secretly.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
25 Cursed is anyone who takes payment to strike down an innocent person.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
26 Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by doing them.
All the people will say, “Amen!”
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The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.