Deuteronomy 27

1 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

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 it shall be on the day when you shall pass over Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set you up great stones, and plaster 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 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you are passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land that flows with milk and honey; as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you.

4 Therefore it shall be when you be gone over Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.

5 And there shall you build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones: you shall not lift up 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 of whole stones: and you shall offer burnt offerings thereon to the LORD your God:

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

7 And you shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before 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 on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

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

9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, Take heed, and listen, O Israel; this day you are 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 do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you this day.

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

11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

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

12 These shall stand on mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and 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 shall stand on mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and 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 And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

The descendants of Levi must shout these words loudly:

15 Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, 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 Cursed be he that sets light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that removes his neighbor’s landmark. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that makes the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that perverts the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that lies with his father’s wife; because he uncovers his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that lies with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that lies with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that smites his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

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

25 Cursed be he that takes reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, 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 Cursed be he that confirms not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, 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).’”