Deuteronomy 27

Write the Instruction on Stones

1Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep all the commandment that I command you today. 2And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up for yourself large stones and plaster them with plaster. 3You shall write upon them all the words of this instruction when you cross over, so that you may enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, spoke to you. 4And when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up these stones concerning which I command you today on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.

Build an Altar on Mount Ebal

5“You shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not wield an iron tool upon them. 6You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with whole stones and offer burnt offerings upon it to the LORD your God. 7You shall sacrifice offerings of well-being and eat there and rejoice before the LORD your God. 8You shall write upon the stones all the words of this instruction very clearly.”

Today You Have Become the People of the LORD

9Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and hear, Israel. This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. 10You shall listen to the voice of the LORD your God and do his commandments and his statutes that I command you today.”

Gerizim and Ebal

11Moses commanded the people on that day, saying, 12“These shall stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13And these shall stand for the curse on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

The Curses

14“The Levites shall answer and say to every man of Israel with a loud voice: 15‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved or cast image, a detestable thing to the LORD, the work of a craftsman’s hands, and sets it up in secret.’

And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’ 16‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or mother with contempt.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 17‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 18‘Cursed is the one who causes a blind person to wander on the road.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 19‘Cursed is the one who distorts the justice due to the resident alien, orphan, and widow.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 20‘Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 21‘Cursed is the one who lies with any animal.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 22‘Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 23‘Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 24‘Cursed is the one who strikes his neighbor in secret.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 25‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to strike an innocent life.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ 26‘Cursed is the one who does not establish the words of this instruction by doing them.’

And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’