⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant^(A) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”^(B)

³ When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,^(A) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”^{(B) 4} Moses then wrote^(C) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar^(D) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars^(E) representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(A) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(B) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(C) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(D) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[a](E) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(F) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(G)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(H) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.^(A)

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(A) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁵ After the reading from the Law^(A) and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”

²³ but I gave them this command:^(A) Obey^(B) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.^(C) Walk in obedience to all^(D) I command you, that it may go well^(E) with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen^(F) or pay attention;^(G) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(H) They went backward^(I) and not forward.

¹¹ when all Israel comes to appear^(A) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,^(B) you shall read this law^(C) before them in their hearing. ¹² Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn^(D) to fear^(E) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. ¹³ Their children,^(F) who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”