Deuteronomy 27

The Law Written on Stones

¹Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, “Keep every command I am giving you today. ²When you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster. ^{a 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, ^b as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. ⁴When 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. ⁵Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God #— #do not use any iron tool on them. ^{c 6}Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it. ⁷There you are to sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. ⁸Write clearly all the words of this law on the plastered stones.”

The Covenant Curses

⁹Moses 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. ¹⁰Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and statutes I am giving you today.”

¹¹On 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. ¹³And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ^{d 14}The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

¹⁵‘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 is cursed.’

And all the people will reply, ‘Amen! ’

¹⁶‘The one who dishonors his father or mother is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

¹⁷‘The one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

¹⁸‘The one who leads a blind person astray on the road is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

¹⁹‘The one who denies justice to a resident alien, a fatherless child, or a widow is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²⁰‘The one who sleeps with his father’s wife is cursed, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ ^e

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²¹‘The one who has sexual intercourse with any animal is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²²‘The one who sleeps with his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²³‘The one who sleeps with his mother-in-law is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²⁴‘The one who secretly kills his neighbor is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²⁵‘The one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’

²⁶‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’

And all the people will say, ‘Amen! ’