Deuteronomy 27 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

The altar on Mount Ebal

1 Moses and the elders of Israel gave commands to the people. They said, ‘Obey all the commands we’re giving you today. 2 You will go across the River Jordan. You will enter the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you do, set up some large stones. Put a coat of plaster on them. 3 Write all the words of this law on them. Do it when you have crossed over into the land the LORD your God is giving you. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. The LORD is the God of your people of long ago. He promised you that you would enter the land. 4 After you have gone across the Jordan, set up those stones on Mount Ebal. Put a coat of plaster on them. We’re commanding you today to do that. 5 Build an altar there to honour the LORD your God. Make it out of stones. Don’t use any iron tool on them. 6 Use stones you find in the fields to build his altar. Then offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. 7 Sacrifice friendship offerings there. Eat them and be filled with joy in the sight of the LORD your God. 8 You must write all the words of this law on the stones you have set up. Write the words very clearly.’

Curses for not obeying the Lord

9 Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, spoke to all the Israelites. They said, ‘Israel, be quiet! Listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. 10 Obey him. Obey his commands and rules that we’re giving you today.’ 11 Here are the commands Moses gave the people that same day. 12 You will go across the River Jordan. When you do, six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Those tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13 The other six tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to announce some curses. Those tribes are Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. 14 The Levites will speak to all the Israelites in a loud voice. The Levites will say, 15 ‘May anyone who makes a statue of a god and sets it up in secret be under the LORD’s curse. That statue is made by a skilled worker. And the LORD hates it.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 16 ‘May anyone who brings shame on their father or mother be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 17 ‘May anyone who moves their neighbour’s boundary stone be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 18 ‘May anyone who leads blind people down the wrong road be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 19 ‘May anyone who treats unfairly outsiders, widows, and children whose fathers have died be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 20 ‘May anyone who sleeps with his stepmother be under the LORD’s curse. That man brings shame on his father by doing that.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 21 ‘May anyone who has sex with animals be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 22 ‘May anyone who sleeps with his sister be under the LORD’s curse. It doesn’t matter whether she is his full sister or his half sister.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 23 ‘May anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 24 ‘May anyone who kills their neighbour secretly be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 25 ‘May anyone who accepts money to kill someone who isn’t guilty of doing anything wrong be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 26 ‘May anyone who doesn’t honour the words of this law by obeying them be under the LORD’s curse.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

English Standard Version

The Altar on Mount Ebal

1 Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. 2 And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. (Jos 4:1) 3 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that 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. (Ex 3:8; Jos 8:32) 4 And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. (De 11:29; Jos 8:30) 5 And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; (Ex 20:25; Jos 8:31) 6 you shall build an altar to the Lord your God of uncut^[1] stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. (De 12:7) 8 And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.” (Hab 2:2)

Curses from Mount Ebal

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. (De 26:18) 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.” 11 That day Moses charged the people, saying, 12 “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. (De 11:29; Jos 8:33; Jud 9:7) 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice: (De 33:10; Da 9:11) 15 “‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ (Ex 20:4; Ex 34:17; Nu 5:22; Ne 5:13; Ps 106:48; Jer 11:5; Jer 28:6; 1Co 14:16)

Ex 20:4Ex 34:17Nu 5:22Ne 5:13Ps 106:48Jer 11:5Jer 28:61Co 14:16

16 “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Ex 20:12; Ex 21:17; Le 19:3; De 21:18)

Ex 20:12Ex 21:17Le 19:3De 21:18

17 “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (De 19:14) 18 “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Le 19:14) 19 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Ex 22:21) 20 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’^[2] And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Le 18:8; De 22:30) 21 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Le 18:23) 22 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Le 18:9; Le 20:17; Eze 22:11) 23 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Le 18:17; Le 20:14) 24 “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Ex 21:12; Ex 21:14; De 19:11) 25 “‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Ex 23:7; De 16:19; Eze 22:12) 26 “‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (De 28:15; Jer 11:3; Ga 3:10)