8 There may be a case that is too hard for you to decide. It may involve murder, assault, or a dispute-any case which may be brought to court in your cities. Take this case to the place that Yahweh your Elohim will choose. 9 Go to the Levitical priests and the judge who is serving at that time. Ask for their opinion, and they will give you their verdict 10 at the place that Yahweh will choose. Do what they tell you. Follow all their instructions carefully, 11 and do what they tell you to do in their verdict. Do exactly what they tell you to do in their decision. 12 If anyone deliberately disobeys the priest (who serves Yahweh your Elohim) or the judge, that person must die. You must get rid of this evil in Israel. 13 When all the people hear about it, they will be afraid and will never defy God's law again.

14 You will enter the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you. You will take possession of it and live there. You will say, "Let's have our own king like all the other nations around us." 15 Be sure to appoint the king Yahweh your Elohim will choose. He must be one of your own people. Never let a foreigner be king, because he's not one of your own people.

16 The king must never own a large number of horses or make the people return to Egypt to get more horses. Yahweh has told you, "You will never go back there again." 17 The king must never have a large number of wives, or he will turn away from God. And he must never own a lot of gold and silver.

18 When he becomes king, he should have the Levitical priests make him a copy of these teachings on a scroll. 19 He must keep it with him and read it his entire life. He will learn to fear Yahweh his Elohim and faithfully obey everything found in these teachings and laws. 20 Then he won't think he's better than the rest of his people, and he won't disobey these commands in any way. So he and his sons will rule for a long time in Israel.

Laws for the Levites 18 1 The Levitical priests-in fact, the whole tribe of Levi-will receive no land or property of their own like the rest of the Israelites. They will eat what has been sacrificed to Yahweh. These sacrifices will be what they receive.a 2 So the Levites will have no land of their own like the other Israelites. Yahweh will be their inheritance, as he promised them.

3 This is what the people owe the priests whenever they sacrifice an ox, a sheep, or a goat: the shoulder, jaws, and stomach. 4 Also, give them the first produce harvested: grain, new wine, olive oil, and the first wool you shear from your sheep. 5 Out of all your tribes, Yahweh your Elohim has chosen the Levites and their descendants to do the work of serving in the name of Yahweh forever.

6 A Levite from any of your cities in Israel may come from where he has been living to the place Yahweh will choose. He may come as often as he wants 7 and may serve in the name of Yahweh his Elohim like all the other Levites who do their work in Yahweh's presence. 8 If he does, he'll get the same amount of food as they do, in addition to what he gets from selling his family's goods.a Laws about Prophets 9 When you come to the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you, never learn the disgusting practices of those nations. 10 You must never sacrifice your sons or daughters by burning them alive, practice black magic, be a fortuneteller, witch, or sorcerer, 11 cast spells, ask ghosts or spirits for help, or consult the dead. 12 Whoever does these things is disgusting to Yahweh. Yahweh your Elohim is forcing these nations out of your way because of their disgusting practices. 13 You must have integrity in dealing with Yahweh your Elohim. 14 These nations you are forcing out listen to fortunetellers and to those who practice black magic. But Yahweh your Elohim won't let you do anything like that.

15 Yahweh your Elohim will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. You must listen to him. 16 This is what you asked Yahweh your Elohim to give you on the day of the assembly at Mount Horeb. You said, "We never want to hear the voice of Yahweh our Elohim or see this raging fire again. If we do, we'll die!"

17 Yahweh told me, "What they've said is good. 18 So I will send them a prophet, an Israelite like you. I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 Whoever refuses to listen to the words that prophet speaks in my name will answer to me. 20 But any prophet who dares to say something in my name that I didn't command him to say or who speaks in the name of other gods must die."

21 You may be wondering, "How can we recognize that Yahweh didn't speak this message?" 22 If a prophet speaks in Yahweh's name and what he says doesn't happen or come true, then it didn't come from Yahweh . That prophet has spoken on his own authority. Never be afraid of him.

Criminal Laws 19 1 Yahweh your Elohim will destroy all the nations that are living in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you. You will force them out and live in their cities and houses. 2 When all this is done, set aside three cities in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you. 3 Provide a route to each of these cities and divide the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you into three regions. Whoever kills someone may run to one of these cities.

4 A person who unintentionally kills someone he never hated in the past may run to one of these cities to save his life. 5 Suppose two people go into the woods to cut wood. As one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head flies off the handle, hits, and kills the other person. The one who accidentally killed the other person may run to one of these cities and save his life. 6 Otherwise, in a rage the relative who has the authority to avenge the death will pursue him. If the place is too far away, the relative may catch up with him and take his life even though he didn't deserve the death penalty, because in the past he never hated the person he killed. 7 This is why I'm commanding you to set aside three cities for yourselves.

8 Yahweh your Elohim may expand your country's borders as he promised your ancestors with an oath. He may give you the whole land he promised to give them. 9 He may do this because you faithfully obey all these commands I am now giving you-to love Yahweh your Elohim and follow his directions as long as you live. If this happens, you may add three more cities of refuge to these three. 10 That way, innocent people won't be killed in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you, and you won't be guilty of murder.

11 Suppose someone hates another person, waits in ambush for him, attacks him, takes his life, and runs to one of these cities. 12 If someone does this, the leaders of your city must send for that person. They must take him from that city and hand him over to the relative who has the authority to avenge the death. He must die. 13 They must have no pity on him. The guilt of murdering an innocent person must be removed from Israel. Then things will go well for Israel.

14 Never move your neighbor's original boundary marker on any property in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you.

15 One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

16 This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime. 17 The two people involved must stand in Yahweh's presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation. If it is found that the witness lied when he testified against the other Israelite, 19 then do to him what he planned to do to the other person. You must get rid of this evil. 20 When the rest of the people hear about this, they will be afraid. Never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Have no pity on him: Take a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.

Laws for Warfare 20 1 When you go to war against your enemies, you may see horses, chariots, and armies larger than yours. Don't be afraid of them, because Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you. 2 Before the battle starts, a priest must come and speak to the troops. 3 He should tell them, "Listen, Israel, today you're going into battle against your enemies. Don't lose your courage! Don't be afraid or alarmed or tremble because of them. 4 Yahweh your Elohim is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and give you victory."

5 The officers should tell the troops, "If you have built a new house but not dedicated it, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will dedicate it. 6 If you have planted a vineyard and not enjoyed the grapes, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will enjoy the grapes. 7 If you are engaged to a woman but have not married her, you may go home. Otherwise, you might die in battle, and someone else will marry her."

8 The officers should also tell the troops, "If you are afraid or have lost your courage, you may go home. Then you won't ruin the morale of the other Israelites." 9 When the officers finish speaking to the troops, they should appoint commanders to lead them.

10 When you approach a city to attack it, offer its people a peaceful way to surrender. 11 If they accept it and open their gates to you, then all the people there will be made to do forced labor and serve you. 12 If they won't accept your offer of peace but declare war on you, set up a blockade around the city. 13 When Yahweh your Elohim hands the city over to you, kill every man in that city with your swords. 14 But take the women and children, the cattle and everything else in the city, including all its goods, as your loot. You may enjoy your enemies' goods that Yahweh your Elohim has given you. 15 This is what you must do to all the cities that are far away which don't belong to the nations nearby.

16 However, you must not spare anyone's life in the cities of these nations that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you as your property. 17 You must claim the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites for the LORD and completely destroy them, as Yahweh your Elohim has commanded you. 18 Otherwise, they will teach you to do all the disgusting things they do for their gods, and you will sin against Yahweh your Elohim .

19 This is what you must do whenever you blockade a city for a long time in order to capture it in war. Don't harm any of its fruit trees with an ax. You can eat the fruit. Never cut those trees down, because the trees of the field are not people you have come to blockade. 20 You may destroy trees that you know are not fruit trees. You may cut them down and use them in your blockade until you capture the city.

When a Murder Is Committed, but the Murderer Can't Be Found 21 1 This is what you must do if you find a murder victim lying in a field in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you. If no one knows who committed the murder, 2 your leaders and judges must go and measure the distance from the body to each of the neighboring cities. 3 When it has been determined which city is nearest the body, the leaders from that city must choose a heifer that has never been put to work and never worn a yoke.a 4 The leaders of that city will bring the heifer down to a river, to a location where the land hasn't been plowed or planted. At the river they must break the heifer's neck. 5 The priests, the descendants of Levi, must come forward. Yahweh your Elohim has chosen them to serve him as priests and to bless people in Yahweh's name. Their decision is final in all cases involving a disagreement or an assault. 6 All the leaders from the city which was nearest the murder victim must wash their hands over the dead heifer. 7 Then they must make this formal statement: "We didn't commit this murder, and we didn't witness it. 8 Yahweh, make peace with your people Israel, whom you freed. Don't let the guilt of this unsolved murder remain among your people Israel." Then there will be peace with the LORD despite the murder. 9 This is how you will get rid of the guilt of an unsolved murder by doing what Yahweh considers right.

Laws about Marriage and Family 10 When you go to war with your enemies and Yahweh your Elohim hands them over to you, you may take them captive. 11 If you see a beautiful woman among the captives and have your heart set on her, you may marry her. 12 Bring her into your home. She must shave her head, cut her nails, 13 and no longer wear the clothes she was wearing when you captured her. Then she may live in your house and mourn the loss of her father and mother for one month. After that, you may sleep with her. Then you will become husband and wife.

14 But if it happens that you are no longer pleased with her, let her go wherever she wants. You must never sell her or mistreat her as if she were a slave,b since you've already had sex with her.

15 A man might have two wives and love one but not the other. Both wives might have children, and the firstborn son might belong to the wife that the man doesn't love. 16 When the day comes for the father to give his sons their inheritance, he can't treat the son of the wife he loves as if that son were the firstborn. This would show a total disregard for the real firstborn (the son of the wife he doesn't love). 17 Instead, he must recognize the son of the wife he doesn't love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double portion of whatever he owns. That son is the very first son he had. The rights of the firstborn son are his.

18 Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn't obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won't listen to them. 19 His father and mother must take him to the leaders of the city at the city gate. 20 They will say to the leaders of the city, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He won't obey us. He eats too much and is a drunk." 21 All the men of the city should stone him to death. You must get rid of this evil. When all Israel hears about it, they will be afraid.

Various Laws 22 When a convicted person is put to death, 23 never leave his dead body hung on a pole overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone whose body is hung on a pole is cursed by Elohim. The land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you must never become unclean.a 22 1 If you see another Israelite's ox or sheep out where it doesn't belong, don't pretend that you don't see it. Make sure you take it back. 2 If the owner doesn't live near you or you don't know who owns it, take the animal home with you. Keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then give it back. 3 Do the same if you find a donkey, some clothes, or anything else that another Israelite may have lost. Don't pretend that you don't know what to do.

4 If you see another Israelite's donkey or ox lying on the road, don't pretend that you don't see it. Make sure you help him get it back on its feet.

5 A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women's clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to Yahweh your Elohim .

6 Whenever you're traveling and find a nest containing chicks or eggs, this is what you must do. If the mother bird is sitting on the nest, never take her with the chicks. 7 You may take the chicks, but make sure you let the mother go. Then things will go well for you, and you will live for a long time.

8 Whenever you build a new house, put a railing around the edge of the roof. Then you won't be responsible for a death at your home if someone falls off the roof.

9 Never plant anything between the rows in your vineyard. Otherwise, you will have to give everything that grows there to the holy place. This includes the crop you planted and the grapes from the vineyard.

10 Never plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together.

11 Never wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together.

12 Make tassels on the four corners of the shawl you wear over your clothes.

Laws about Sex and Marriage 13 A man might marry a woman, sleep with her, and decide he doesn't like her. 14 Then he might make up charges against her and ruin her reputation by saying, "I married this woman. But when I slept with her, I found out she wasn't a virgin." 15 The girl's father and mother must go to the city gate where the leaders of the city are and submit the evidence that their daughter was a virgin. 16 The girl's father will tell the leaders, "I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he doesn't like her. 17 Now he has made up charges against her. He says he found out that my daughter wasn't a virgin. But here's the evidence!" Then the girl's parents must spread out the cloth in front of the leaders of the city. 18 The leaders of that city must take the man and punish him. 19 They will fine him 2 pounds of silver and give it to the girl's father. The husband ruined the reputation of an Israelite virgin. She will continue to be his wife, and he can never divorce her as long as he lives.

20 But if the charge is true, and no evidence that the girl was a virgin can be found, 21 they must take the girl to the entrance of her father's house. The men of her city must stone her to death because she has committed such a godless act in Israel: She had sex before marriage, while she was still living in her father's house. You must get rid of this evil.

22 If a man is caught having sexual intercourse with a married woman, both that man and the woman must die. You must get rid of this evil in Israel.

23 This is what you must do when a man has sexual intercourse with a virgin who is engaged to another man. If this happens in a city, 24 take them to the gate of the city and stone them to death. The girl must die because she was in a city and didn't scream for help. The man must die because he had sex with another man's wife. You must get rid of this evil.

25 But if a man rapes an engaged girl out in the country, then only the man must die. 26 Don't do anything to the girl. She has not committed a sin for which she deserves to die. This is like the case of someone who attacks and murders another person. 27 The man found the girl out in the country. She may have screamed for help, but no one was there to rescue her.

28 This is what you must do when a man rapes a virgin who isn't engaged. When the crime is discovered, 29 the man who had sexual intercourse with her must give the girl's father 1 pounds of silver, and she will become his wife. Since he raped her, he can never divorce her as long as he lives.a 30 A man must never marry his father's wife because this would disgrace his father.

Various Laws 23 b1 A man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of Yahweh.

2 A man born from an illicit union may not join the assembly of Yahweh. No descendant of his may join the assembly of Yahweh for ten generations.

3 Ammonites or Moabites may not join the assembly of Yahweh. Not one descendant of theirs may join the assembly of Yahweh for ten generations. 4 They cannot join because they didn't greet you with food and water on your trip from Egypt. They even hired Balaam, son of Beor, from Pethor in Aram Naharaim, to curse you. 5 But Yahweh your Elohim refused to listen to Balaam. Instead, he turned Balaam's curse into a blessing for you because Yahweh your Elohim loves you. 6 Never offer them peace or friendship as long as you live.

7 Never consider the Edomites disgusting. They're your relatives. Never consider the Egyptians disgusting. You once were foreigners living in their country. 8 Their grandchildren may join the assembly of Yahweh.

9 When you're at war and have set up camp to fight your enemies, stay away from anything that will make you unclean.c 10 If one of your men becomes unclean from a nocturnal emission, he must go outside the camp and stay there. 11 Toward evening he must wash, and at sunset he may come back to camp.

12 Choose a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. 13 You must carry a pointed stick as part of your equipment. When you go outside to squat, dig a hole with it. When you're done, cover up your excrement. 14 Yahweh your Elohim moves around in your camp to protect you and hand your enemies over to you. So your camp must always be holy. This way, Yahweh will never see anything offensive among you and turn away from you.

15 If a slave escapes from his master and comes to you, don't return him to his master. 16 Let him stay with you and live among your people wherever he chooses, in any of your cities that seems best to him. Never mistreat him.

17 No Israelite man or woman should ever become a temple prostitute. 18 Never bring gifts or money earned by prostitution into the house of Yahweh your Elohim as an offering you vowed to give. These earnings are disgusting to Yahweh your Elohim.

19 Never charge another Israelite any interest on money, food, or anything else that is borrowed. 20 You may charge a foreigner interest, but not an Israelite. Then Yahweh your Elohim will bless you in everything you do once you've entered the land and taken possession of it.

21 If you make a vow to Yahweh your Elohim, don't avoid keeping it. Yahweh your Elohim expects you to keep it. You would be guilty of a sin if you didn't. 22 If you didn't make a vow, you would not be guilty. 23 Make sure you do what you said you would do in your vow. You freely chose to make your vow to Yahweh your Elohim .

24 If you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you like until you're full. But never put any in your basket. 25 If you go into your neighbor's grain field, you may pick grain by hand. But never use a sickle to cut your neighbor's grain.

Various Laws 24 1 This is what you must do if a husband writes out a certificate of divorce, gives it to his wife, and makes her leave his house. (He divorced her because he found out something indecent about her and she no longer pleased him.) 2 She might marry another man after she leaves his house. 3 If her second husband doesn't love her and divorces her, or if he dies, 4 her first husband is not allowed to marry her again. She has become unclean.a This would be disgusting in Yahweh's presence. Don't pollute with sin the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you as your property.

5 A man who has recently been married will be free from military duty or any other public service. For one year he is free to stay at home and make his new wife happy.

6 Never let a family's handmill for grinding flour-or even part of a handmill-be taken to guarantee a loan. The family wouldn't be able to prepare food in order to stay alive.

7 Whoever kidnaps another Israelite must die. The kidnapper must die, whether he treated the other person like a slaveb or sold him. You must get rid of this evil.

8 Guard against outbreaks of serious skin diseases. Be very careful to do exactly as the Levitical priests instruct you. Make sure you do what I commanded them. 9 Remember what Yahweh your Elohim did to Miriam on your trip from Egypt.

10 When you make a loan to your neighbor, don't go into his house to take a security deposit. 11 Wait outside, and the person to whom you're making the loan will bring the deposit out to you. 12 If the person is poor, don't keep the coat you took as a deposit overnight. 13 Make sure you bring it back to him at sunset. When he wears his coat to bed that night, he'll bless you. You will have done the right thing in the presence of Yahweh your Elohim.

14 Don't withhold pay from hired workers who are poor and needy, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living in one of your cities. 15 Pay them each day before sunset because they are poor and need their pay. Otherwise, they will complain to Yahweh about you, and you will be condemned for your sin.

16 Parents must never be put to death for the crimes of their children, and children must never be put to death for the crimes of their parents. Each person must be put to death for his own crime.

17 Never deprive foreigners and orphans of justice. And never take widows' clothes to guarantee a loan. 18 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and Yahweh your Elohim freed you from slavery. So I'm commanding you to do this.

19 This is what you must do when you're harvesting wheat in your field. If you forget to bring in one of the bundles of wheat, don't go back to get it. Leave it there for foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then Yahweh your Elohim will bless you in everything you do.

20 When you harvest olives from your trees, never knock down all of them. Leave some for foreigners, orphans, and widows.

21 When you pick the grapes in your vineyard, don't pick all of them. Leave some for foreigners, orphans, and widows. 22 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. So I'm commanding you to do this.

Various Laws 25 1 This is what you must do whenever two people have a disagreement that is brought into court. The judges will hear the case and decide who's right and who's wrong. 2 If the person who's in the wrong deserves to be beaten, the judge will order him to lie down. Then the judge will have him beaten with as many lashes as the crime deserves. 3 Forty lashes may be given, but no more. If an Israelite were given more than that, he would be publicly humiliated.

4 Never muzzle an ox when it's threshinga grain.

5 When brothers live together and one of them dies without having a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother must marry her and sleep with her. He must do his duty as her brother-in-law. 6 Then the first son she has will carry the dead brother's name so that his name won't die out in Israel.

7 But if the man doesn't want to marry his brother's widow, she must go to the leaders of the city at the city gate. She must say, "My brother-in-law refuses to let his brother's name continue in Israel. He doesn't want to do his duty as my brother-in-law." 8 Then the leaders of the city must summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying that he doesn't want to marry her, 9 his brother's widow must go up to him in the presence of the leaders. She must take off one of his sandals and spit in his face. She must make this formal statement: "This is what happens to a man who refuses to continue his brother's family line." 10 Then in Israel his family will be called the Family of the Man Without a Sandal.

11 This is what you must do when two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from the man who is beating him. If she tries to stop the fight by grabbing the other man's genitals, 12 cut off her hand. Have no pity on her.

13 Never carry two sets of weights, a heavier one and a lighter one. 14 Never have two kinds of measures in your house, a larger one and a smaller one. 15 Use accurate and honest weights and measures. Then you will live for a long time in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you. 16 Everyone who uses dishonest weights and measures is disgusting to Yahweh your Elohim.

17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you on your trip from Egypt. 18 They attacked you when you were tired and exhausted and killed all those who were lagging behind. They weren't afraid of Elohim. 19 So when Yahweh your Elohim gives you peace from all your enemies around you in the land that he is giving you as your own property, don't forget to erase every memory of the Amalekites from the earth.

A Reminder to Keep God's Laws 26 1 Soon you will enter and take possession of the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you as your property. When you have settled there, 2 take some of the first produce harvested from the fields in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where Yahweh your Elohim will choose for his name to live. 3 Go to the priest who is serving at that time, and tell him, "I declare today to Yahweh your Elohim that I have come to the land that Yahweh is giving us, as he swore to our ancestors." 4 Then the priest will take the basket from you and set it down in front of the altar of Yahweh your Elohim. 5 You will make this formal statement in the presence of Yahweh your Elohim: "My ancestors were wandering Arameans. There were only a few of them when they went to Egypt and lived as foreigners. But then they became a great, powerful, and large nation. 6 So the Egyptians treated us cruelly, oppressed us, and made us do back-breaking work for them. 7 We cried out to Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors, and Yahweh heard us. He saw our misery, suffering, and oppression. 8 Then Yahweh used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring us out of Egypt. He used spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds, miraculous signs, and amazing things. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. 10 So now I've brought the first produce harvested from the fields you gave me, Yahweh."

You will place the basket in the presence of Yahweh your Elohim and bow down in front of him. 11 Then you, the Levites, and the foreigners who live among you can enjoy all the good things which Yahweh your Elohim has given you and your family.

12 Every third year is the year when you will store a tenth of that year's crops in your houses. During that year distribute what you have stored to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows in your cities, and they may eat all they want. 13 When you have distributed all that was stored, say to Yahweh your Elohim, "Nothing is left of the holy offering stored in my house. I distributed it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows as you commanded me. I disobeyed none of your commands, and I didn't forget to do what you commanded. 14 I didn't eat any of this holy offering while I was in mourning. I didn't distribute any of it while I was unclean.a I didn't offer any of it to the dead. I have obeyed Yahweh my Elohim. I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy place in heaven. Bless your people Israel and the land flowing with milk and honey that you have given us, as you promised with an oath to our ancestors."

16 Today Yahweh your Elohim is commanding you to obey these laws and rules. You must faithfully obey them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 Today you have declared that Yahweh is your Elohim and that you will follow his directions, obey his laws, commands, and rules, and listen to him. 18 Today Yahweh has declared that you are his people, his own special possession, as he told you. But you must be sure to obey his commands. 19 Then he will place you high above all the other nations he has made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a people holy to Yahweh your Elohim , as he promised.

Write the Law on Stones 27 1 Moses and the leaders of Israel told the people, "Obey every command I'm giving you today.

2 "The day you cross the Jordan River and enter the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving you, set up some large stones and cover them with plaster. 3 Yahweh Elohim of your ancestors is giving you a land flowing with milk and honey, as he promised you. After you're in that land, write all the words of these teachings on the stones. 4 After you cross the Jordan River, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, and cover them with plaster, following the command I'm giving you today. 5 Build an altar of stones there dedicated to Yahweh your Elohim. Don't use an iron chisel on the stones. 6 You must use uncut stones to build the altar of Yahweh your Elohim. Sacrifice burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your Elohim. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat them there, and enjoy yourselves in the presence of Yahweh your Elohim. 8 Write clearly and carefully all the words of these teachings on the stones you set up."

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, "Be quiet and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of Yahweh your Elohim. 10 Obey Yahweh your Elohim and follow his commands and laws which I'm giving you today."

Curses Which Are to Be Recited 11 That same day Moses gave the people this command: 12 After you cross the Jordan River, these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal to announce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 The Levites will declare to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: 15 "Whoever has a carved or metal statue, anything disgusting to Yahweh that was made by a craftsman, and sets it up in secret will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

16 "Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

17 "Whoever moves his neighbor's boundary marker will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

18 "Whoever leads blind people in the wrong direction will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

19 "Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

20 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father's wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father." Then all the people will say amen.

21 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with any animal will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

22 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

23 "Whoever has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

24 "Whoever kills another person secretly will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

25 "Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

26 "Whoever doesn't obey every word of these teachings will be cursed." Then all the people will say amen.

Blessings from the LORD 28 1 Carefully obey Yahweh your Elohim, and faithfully follow all his commands that I'm giving you today. If you do, Yahweh your Elohim will place you high above all the other nations in the world. 2 These are all the blessings that will come to you and stay close to you because you obey Yahweh your Elohim: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 You will be blessed. You will have children. Your land will have crops. Your animals will have offspring. Your cattle will have calves, and your flocks will have lambs and kids.

5 The grain you harvest and the bread you bake will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come and blessed when you go.

7 Yahweh will defeat your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction but run away from you in seven directions.

8 Yahweh will bless your barns and everything you do. Yahweh your Elohim will bless you in the land that he is giving you.

9 You will be Yahweh's holy people, as he promised you with an oath. He will do this if you obey the commands of Yahweh your Elohim and follow his directions. 10 Then all the people in the world will see that you are Yahweh's people, and they will be afraid of you. 11 Yahweh will give you plenty of blessings: You will have many children. Your animals will have many offspring. Your soil will produce many crops in the land Yahweh will give you, as he swore to your ancestors.