Deuteronomy 27

1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people and said, “Keep all the commandments that I command 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 On the day when you will pass over the Jordan to the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must set up some large 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 You must write on them all the words of this law when you have passed over; that you may go into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.

4 When you have passed over the Jordan, set up these stones that I am commanding you about today, on Mount Ebal, and plaster them with plaster.

5 There you must build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones; but you must raise no iron tool to work the stones.

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

6 You must build the altar of Yahweh your God of unworked stones; you must offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God,

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

7 and you will sacrifice fellowship offerings and will eat there; you will rejoice before Yahweh 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 You will 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 Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel and said, “Be silent and listen, Israel: Today you have become the people of Yahweh 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 must therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God and obey his commandments and statutes that I am commanding 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 Moses commanded the people the same day and said,

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

12 “These tribes must stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people after you have passed over the Jordan: 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 These are the tribes that must stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: 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 The Levites will answer and say to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

The descendants of Levi must shout these words loudly:

15 'May the man be cursed who makes a carved or cast figure, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and who sets it up in secret.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who dishonors his father or his mother.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who removes his neighbor's landmark.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who makes the blind to wander away from the road.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who uses force to take away the justice due to a foreigner, fatherless, or widow.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who lies with his father's wife, because he has taken away his father's rights.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who sleeps with any kind of beast.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father, or with the daughter of his mother.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who sleeps with his mother-in-law.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who kills his neighbor secretly.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

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

25 'May the man be cursed who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' Then all the people must 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 'May the man be cursed who does not confirm the words of this law, that he will obey them.' Then all the people must 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).’”