Deuteronomy 27

1 Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all the commandments I am giving you today.

Moses/I, along with the other Israeli leaders, said this to the people: “Obey all the commandments that I am giving to you today.

2 And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster.

[Soon] you will cross the Jordan [River] and enter the land that Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors [worshiped], promised to give to you. There, in that very fertile [IDM] land on the [west] side of the Jordan [River], set up some large stones [on Ebal Mountain], and cover them with plaster. Then write on those stones all these laws and teachings/instructions.

3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

4 And when 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 coat them with plaster.

5 Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them.

And build a stone altar there to offer sacrifices to Yahweh, but do not cut those stones with iron tools.

6 You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God.

The altar that you make to burn sacrifices to Yahweh our God must be made with uncut stones.

7 There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.

And there you must sacrifice offerings to maintain fellowship with Yahweh, and you must eat [your share of those offerings] and rejoice/celebrate in the presence of Yahweh.

8 And you shall write distinctly upon these stones all the words of this law.”

And, when you write these laws on those stones, you must write them very clearly.”

9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the LORD your God.

Then Moses/I, along with the priests, said to all the Israeli people, “You Israeli people, be quiet and listen [to what I am saying]. Today you have become the people who belong to Yahweh, our God.

10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the LORD your God and follow His commandments and statutes I am giving you today.”

So, you must do what he tells you, and obey all the rules and regulations that I am giving to you today.”

11 On that day Moses commanded the people:

On that same day Moses/I said to the Israeli 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.

“After you have crossed over the Jordan [River], the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Gerizim Mountain and [request Yahweh to] bless the people.

13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Ebal Mountain and listen to the things that Yahweh will do when he curses the people.

14 Then the Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite:

The descendants of Levi must shout these words loudly:

15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who makes an idol of stone, or of wood, or of metal, and secretly sets it up [and worships it]. Yahweh considers that those things, made by humans [SYN], are detestable/disgusting.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who removes someone else’s markers of property boundaries.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

18 ‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who leads a blind person to go (in the wrong direction/where that person does not want to go).’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who deprives foreigners or orphans or widows of the things that the laws state must be done for them.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

20 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who (shows no respect for/disgraces his father) by having sex with [EUP] any of his father’s wives.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who has sex [EUP] with any animal.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

22 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who has sex with his sister or with his half-sister.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

23 ‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his mother-in-law.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who has sex with [EUP] his mother-in-law.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who secretly murders someone else.’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who accepts a bribe to murder someone who (is innocent/has not done something that is wrong.)’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’

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

‘Yahweh will curse anyone who disobeys these laws and refuses to declare that these laws [are good].’ And all the people must reply, ‘(Amen/We want that to happen).’”