1Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying: “Keep all the commandment that I am commanding you today.”
2And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with plaster.
3And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, so that you may enter the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
4And it shall be, when you cross over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, concerning which I am commanding you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster.
5And there you shall build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool over them.
6You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God of whole stones, and you shall offer up on it burnt offerings to Yahweh your God.
7And you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God.
8And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law, engraving them very clearly.
9Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: “Be silent and hear, O Israel! This day you have become a people for Yahweh your God.
10And you shall obey the voice of Yahweh your God and do his commandments and his statutes, which I am commanding you today.”
11And Moses commanded the people on that day, saying:
12“These shall stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim, when you cross over 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.
14And the Levites shall answer and say to every man of Israel with a loud voice:
15“Cursed is the man who makes a carved image or a cast idol, an abomination to Yahweh, 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 dishonors his father or his mother.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
17“Cursed is the one who moves back his neighbor’s boundary marker.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
18“Cursed is the one who leads a blind man astray on the road.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
19“Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the orphan, and the 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 down his neighbor in secret.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
25“Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to strike down a life, innocent blood.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
26“Cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this law by doing them.” And all the people shall say, “Amen.”
Open in the interactive reader →