1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: "Keep all these commands that I give you today. |
2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. |
3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. |
4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. |
5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool upon them. |
6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. |
7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. |
8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up." |
9 Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, "Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. |
10 Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today." |
11 On the same day Moses commanded the people: |
12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. |
13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. |
14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: |
15 "Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol--a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of the craftsman's hands--and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
16 "Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
17 "Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
18 "Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
19 "Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
20 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his father's wife, for he dishonors his father's bed." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
21 "Cursed is the man who has sexual relations with any animal." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
22 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
23 "Cursed is the man who sleeps with his mother-in-law." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
24 "Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
25 "Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |
26 "Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" |