Deuteronomy — Chapter 27

Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying: Observe all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you this day.

aConstruction of vv. 2–4 is uncertain. As soon as you have crossed the Jordan into the land that the ETERNAL your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones. Coat them with plaster

and inscribe upon them all the words of this Teaching. When you cross over to enter the land that the ETERNAL your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the ETERNAL, the God of your ancestors, promised you—

upon crossing the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, about which I charge you this day, on Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster.

There, too, you shall build an altar to the ETERNAL your God, an altar of stones. Do not wield an iron tool over them;

you must build the altar of the ETERNAL your God of unhewnbunhewn Lit. “whole.” stones. You shall offer on it burnt offerings to the ETERNAL your God,

and you shall sacrifice there offerings of well-being and eat them, rejoicing before the ETERNAL your God.

And on those stones you shall inscribe every word of this Teaching most distinctly.

Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: Silence! Hear, O Israel! Today you have become the people of the ETERNAL your God:

Heed the ETERNAL your God and observe the commandments and laws that I enjoin upon you this day.

Thereupon Moses charged the people, saying:

cConstruction of vv. 12–13 is uncertain. After you have crossed the Jordan, the following shall stand on Mount Gerizim when the blessing for the people is spoken: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

And for the curse, the following shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

The Levites shall then proclaim in a loud voice to the entire body of Israel:

Cursed be anyone who makes a sculptured or molten image, abhorred by GOD, a craftsman’s handiwork, and sets it up in secret.—And all the people shall respond, Amen.

Cursed be the one who insults their father or mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who moves a neighbor’s landmark.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who misdirects a blind person who is underway.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who subverts the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who lies with his father’s wife, for he has removed his father’s garment.dremoved his father’s garment See note at 23.1.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who lies with any animal.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who lies with his sister, whether daughter of his father or of his mother.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who lies with his mother-in-law.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who strikes down a fellow Israelite in secret.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be the one who accepts a bribe in the case of the murder ofein the case of the murder of I.e., to acquit the murderer of; in contrast to others “to slay.” an innocent person.—And all the people shall say, Amen.

Cursed be whoever will not uphold the terms of this Teaching and observe them.—And all the people shall say, Amen.