Deuteronomy 27
Moses instructed the people to erect immense stones on Mount Ebal after crossing the Jordan, coat them with plaster, and write the words of the law on them. They were also to build an altar of uncut stones and offer sacrifices to the Lord. The people were divided into two groups, with six tribes standing on Mount Gerizim to bless the people and six on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses. The Levites then pronounced curses on those who disobeyed the law, including idolaters, those who dishonored their parents, and those who committed various forms of injustice.
1Then Moses and the elders of Israel instructed the people, saying: "Keep each commandment that I instruct to you this day2And when you have crossed over the Jordan, into the land which the Lord your God will give to you, you shall erect immense stones, and you shall coat them with plaster3so that you may be able to write upon them all the words of this law, when you have crossed the Jordan so as to enter into the land which the Lord your God will give to you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as he swore to your fathers4Therefore, when you have crossed over the Jordan, erect the stones, just as I instruct you to do this day, on Mount Ebal. And you shall coat them with plaster5and you shall build, in that place, an altar to the Lord your God out of stones which have not been touched by iron6out of stones which have not been hewn or polished. And you shall offer holocausts on it to the Lord your God7And you shall immolate peace victims. And you shall eat and feast in that place, in the sight of the Lord your God8And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law, plainly and clearly.9And Moses and the priests of Levitical stock said to all of Israel: "Attend and listen, O Israel! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God10You shall listen to his voice, and you shall do the commandments and justices, which I am entrusting to you.11And Moses instructed the people in that day, saying12"These shall stand upon Mount Gerizim, as a blessing to the people, when you will have crossed the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin13And in the opposite region, there shall stand upon Mount Ebal, as a curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali14And the Levites shall pronounce and declare to all the men of Israel, with an exalted voice15Cursed be the man who makes a graven or molten idol, an abomination to the Lord, a work of the hands of its maker, and who puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall respond by saying: Amen16Cursed be he who does not honor his father and mother. And all the people shall say: Amen17Cursed be he who removes his neighbor’s landmarks. And all the people shall say: Amen18Cursed be he who causes the blind to go astray on a journey. And all the people shall say: Amen19Cursed be he who subverts the judgment of the new arrival, the orphan, or the widow. And all the people shall say: Amen20Cursed be he who lies with his father’s wife, and so exposes the covering of his bed. And all the people shall say: Amen21Cursed be he who lies with any beast. And all the people shall say: Amen22Cursed be he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or of his mother. And all the people shall say: Amen23Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say: Amen24Cursed be he who secretly strikes down his neighbor. And all the people shall say: Amen25Cursed be he who accepts gifts in order to strike down the life of innocent blood. And all the people shall say: Amen26Cursed be he who does not remain in the words of this law, and does not carry them out in deed. And all the people shall say: Amen.
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