Deuteronomy 27

The Law Written on Stones

1 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.
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, as the Lord, 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.
6 Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it.[a]
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."[b]

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.[c]
14 The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:
15 'Cursed is 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.'[d] And all the people will reply, 'Amen!'
16 'Cursed is the one who dishonors his father or mother.'[e] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
17 'Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's boundary marker.'[f] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
18 'Cursed is the one who leads a blind person astray on the road.'[g] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
19 'Cursed is the one who denies justice to a foreign resident, a fatherless child, or a widow.'[h] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
20 'Cursed is the one who sleeps with his father's wife, for he has violated his father's marriage bed.'[i] [j] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
21 'Cursed is the one who has sexual intercourse with any animal.'[k] And all the people will say 'Amen!'
22 'Cursed is the one who sleeps with his sister, whether his father's daughter or his mother's daughter.'[l] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
23 'Cursed is the one who sleeps with his mother-in-law.'[m] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
24 'Cursed is the one who kills his neighbor in secret.'[n] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
25 'Cursed is the one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.'[o] And all the people will say, 'Amen!'
26 'Cursed is anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice.' And all the people will say, 'Amen!'

Footnotes 15

Deuteronomy 27 Commentaries

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.