Deuteronomy 27

1 Moses and the Israelite elders of Israel gave these instructions to 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 The day you cross the Jordan into the country the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and paint them with whitewash.

[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 Then write all these laws on them once you've crossed over to enter the country that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your forefathers, promised you.

4 After you've crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, having painted them with whitewash, as I've ordered you to do today.

5 Also build a stone altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Don't use any stone tools in its construction.

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

6 Build the altar of the Lord your God with uncut stones and sacrifice burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God.

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

7 That is also where you are to sacrifice and eat your peace offerings, celebrating 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 Write all these laws clearly on the stones.

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

9 Moses and the Levitical priests gave these orders to all the Israelites: “Be quiet, people of Israel, and listen! Today 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 So obey what the Lord your God tells you, and follow commandments and regulations that I'm 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 That day Moses gave these orders to the people:

On that same day Moses/I said to the Israeli people,

12 After you've crossed the Jordan, the following tribes are to 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 The following tribes are to stand on Mount Ebal for 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 will shout in a loud voice so Israelite can hear:

The descendants of Levi must shout these words loudly:

15 “A curse on anyone who makes a carved image or a metal idol and worships it in secret. It's only an object that someone made, and it's offensive to the Lord!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on anyone who dishonors their father or mother.” Everyone says “Amen!”

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

17 “A curse on anyone who moves their neighbor's boundary stone!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on anyone who allows a blind man to wander in the road!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on anyone who doesn't treat foreigners, the orphans, and widows fairly!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on any man who sleeps with his father's wife, for he has disgraced his father!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on anyone who has sex with any animal!” Everyone says “Amen!”

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

22 “A curse on any man who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on any man who sleeps with his mother-in-law!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on anyone who secretly attacks his neighbor!” Everyone says “Amen!”

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

25 “A curse on anyone who accepts a bribe to kill someone who's innocent!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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 “A curse on anyone who doesn't carefully obey all these laws by keeping them!” Everyone says “Amen!”

‘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).’”