Deuteronomy 27
The Law Written on Stones Set Up in the Land
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The Stones and the Altar
27:1Moses and Israel’s council of elders commanded: Keep all these commands that I am giving you today.
27:2On the day you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones for yourself and coat them with plaster.
27:3Write all the words of this law on the stones when you cross the Jordan and enter the land the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you.
27:4When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones, as I command you today, on Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster.
27:5Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not apply iron to them.
27:6Build an altar to the Lord your God with whole stones and offer whole burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God.
27:7Sacrifice there an offering of deliverance to the Lord your God; eat, be satisfied, and rejoice before the Lord your God.
27:8Write this entire law on the stones very clearly.
Charge to Obey
27:9Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel: Be silent and listen, Israel. Today you have become a people belonging to the Lord your God.
27:10Obey the Lord your God and perform all His commands and ordinances that I command you today.
27:11That day Moses commanded the people:
27:12These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people after crossing the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
27:13These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
The Covenant Curses
27:14The Levites shall declare to all Israel in a loud voice:
27:15Cursed is the person who makes a carved or cast image—an abomination to the Lord, the work of a craftsman’s hands—and sets it up in secret. All the people shall answer: So be it.
27:16Cursed is the one who dishonors his father or mother. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:17Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundaries. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:18Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:19Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due a resident foreigner, an orphan, or a widow. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:20Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s wife, for he uncovers his father’s covering. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:21Cursed is the one who lies with any animal. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:22Cursed is the one who lies with his sister on his father’s or mother’s side. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:23Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law. All the people shall say: So be it. Cursed is the one who lies with his wife’s sister. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:24Cursed is the one who strikes his neighbor treacherously. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:25Cursed is the one who takes bribes to strike down an innocent life. All the people shall say: So be it.
27:26Cursed is every person who does not continue in all the words of this law by performing them. All the people shall say: So be it.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.