The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Then Moshe and all the leaders of Isra'el gave orders to the people. They said, "Observe all the mitzvot I am giving you today.
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Then Moses and the responsible men of Israel gave the people these orders: Keep all the orders which I have given you this day;
2 When you cross the Yarden to the land ADONAI your God is giving you, you are to set up large stones, put plaster on them,
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And on the day when you go over Jordan into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, put up great stones, coating them with building-paste,
3 and, after crossing over, write this Torah on them, every word -so that you can enter the land ADONAI your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as ADONAI, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
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And writing on them all the words of this law, after you have gone over; so that you may take the heritage which the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has said.
4 When you have crossed the Yarden, you are to set up these stones, as I am ordering you today, on Mount 'Eival; and put plaster on them.
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And when you have gone over Jordan, you are to put up these stones, as I have said to you today, in Mount Ebal, and have them coated with building-paste.
5 There you are to erect an altar to ADONAI your God, an altar made of stones. You are not to use any iron tool on them,
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There you are to make an altar to the Lord your God, of stones on which no iron instrument has been used.
6 but are to build the altar of ADONAI your God of uncut stones; and you are to offer burnt offerings on it to ADONAI your God.
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You are to make the altar of the Lord your God of uncut stones; offering on it burned offerings to the Lord your God:
7 Also you are to sacrifice peace offerings, eat there and be joyful in the presence of ADONAI your God.
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And you are to make your peace-offerings, feasting there with joy before the Lord your God.
8 You are to write on the stones all the words of this Torah very clearly."
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And put on the stones all the words of this law, writing them very clearly.
9 Next Moshe and the cohanim, who are L'vi'im, spoke to all Isra'el. They said, "Be quiet; and listen, Isra'el! Today you have become the people of ADONAI your God.
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Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, said to all Israel, Be quiet and give ear, O Israel; today you have become the people of the Lord your God.
10 Therefore you are to listen to what ADONAI your God says and obey his mitzvot and laws, which I am giving you today."
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For this cause you are to give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, and do his orders and his laws which I give you this day.
11 That same day Moshe commissioned the people as follows:
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That same day Moses said to the people,
12 "These are the ones who are to stand on Mount G'rizim and bless the people after you have crossed the Yarden: Shim'on, Levi, Y'hudah, Yissakhar, Yosef and Binyamin;
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These are to take their places on Mount Gerizim for blessing the people when you have gone over Jordan: Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Joseph and Benjamin;
13 while these are to stand on Mount 'Eival for the curse: Re'uven, Gad, Asher, Z'vulun, Dan and Naftali.
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And these are to be on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 The L'vi'im, speaking loudly, will proclaim to every man of Isra'el:
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Then the Levites are to say in a loud voice to all the men of Israel,
15 "'A curse on anyone who makes a carved or metal image, something ADONAI detests, the handiwork of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret!'All the people are to respond by saying, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is the man who makes any image of wood or stone or metal, disgusting to the Lord, the work of man's hands, and puts it up in secret. And let all the people say, So be it.
16 "'A curse on anyone who dishonors his father or mother.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who does not give honour to his father or mother. And let all the people say, So be it.
17 "'A curse on anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary marker.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who takes his neighbour's landmark from its place. And let all the people say, So be it.
18 "'A curse on anyone who causes a blind person to lose his way on the road.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he by whom the blind are turned out of the way. And let all the people say, So be it.
19 "'A curse on anyone who interferes with justice for the foreigner, orphan or widow.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who gives a wrong decision in the cause of a man from a strange land, or of one without a father, or of a widow. And let all the people say, So be it.
20 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his father's wife, because he has violated his father's rights.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who has sex relations with his father's wife, for he has put shame on his father. And let all the people say, So be it.
21 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with any kind of animal.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who has sex relations with any sort of beast. And let all the people say, So be it.
22 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his sister, no matter whether she is the daughter of his father or of his mother.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who has sex relations with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother. And let all the people say, So be it.
23 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who has sex relations with his mother-in-law. And let all the people say, So be it.
24 "'A curse on anyone who secretly attacks a fellow member of the community.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who takes his neighbour's life secretly. And let all the people say, So be it.
25 "'A curse on anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who for a reward puts to death one who has done no wrong. And let all the people say, So be it.
26 "'A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'
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Cursed is he who does not take this law to heart to do it. And let all the people say, So be it.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.