The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Deuteronomy 27
1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the
commandment which I command you today.
2 It shall be on the day when you shall
pass over the Jordan to the land which
Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall
set yourself up great stones, and coat them
with plaster.
3 You shall write on them all the words of
this law, when you have passed over, that
you may go in to the land which Yahweh
your God gives you, a land flowing with
milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of
your fathers, has promised you.
4 It shall be, when you have crossed over
the Jordan, that you shall set up these
stones, which I command you today, on
Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with
plaster.
5 There you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones. You shall
not use any iron tool on them.
6 You shall build Yahweh your God’s altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt
offerings on it to Yahweh your God.
7 You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and
shall eat there. You shall rejoice before
Yahweh your God.
8 You shall write on the stones all the
words of this law very plainly.”
9 Moses and the Levitical priests spoke
to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen,
Israel! Today you have become the people
of Yahweh your God.
10 You shall therefore obey Yahweh your
God’s voice, and do his commandments
and his statutes, which I command you
today.”
11 Moses commanded the people the
same day, saying,
12 “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim
to bless the people, when you have crossed
over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for
the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun,
Dan, and Naphtali.
14 With a loud voice, the Levites shall say
to all the men of Israel,
15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the
craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’
All the people shall answer and say,
‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father
or his mother.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is he who leads the blind
astray on the road.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice
from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with† his father’s
wife, because he dishonors his father’s
bed.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of
animal.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s
daughter.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his motherin-law.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his
neighbor.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill
an innocent person.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the
words of this law by doing them.’
All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’