Deuteronomy 27
27
The Altar on Mount Ebal. 1Then Moses, with the elders of Israel, commanded the people, saying: Keep this whole commandment which I give you today. 2On the day you cross the Jordan into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3Write on them,#Jos 8:32. at the time you cross, all the words of this law, so that you may enter the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4When you cross the Jordan, on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones concerning which I command you today, and coat them with plaster, 5#Ex 20:24–25; Jos 8:30–31. and you shall build there an altar to the Lord, your God, an altar made of stones that no iron tool has touched. 6You shall build this altar of the Lord, your God, with unhewn stones, and shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord, your God. 7You shall also offer communion sacrifices#Communion sacrifices: The principal feature of this ritual (see Lv 3:1–17) is the sharing of the sacrifice with God, the priest and the person offering the sacrifice, who eat it as a holy thing (cf. Ex 24:5). and eat them there, rejoicing in the presence of the Lord, your God. 8On the stones you shall inscribe all the words of this law very clearly.
9Moses, with the levitical priests, then said to all Israel: Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord, your God.#Dt 26:17–19. 10You shall obey the voice of the Lord, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes which I am giving you today.
Preparation for Blessings and Curses. 11That same day Moses commanded the people, saying: 12#Dt 11:26–29; Jos 8:33–35. When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
The Twelve Curses. 14The Levites shall proclaim in a loud voice to all the Israelites: 15#The ceremony described here reflects the structure of covenant. The people assent to the directives their covenant Lord sets forth; their “Amen” ratifies the proscription of idolatry, injustice, incest, murder, and infidelity in general. Thus the “love” of the Lord which is at the heart of Israel’s existence as his covenant people (6:4–5) is spelled out in terms of particular actions. The “Amen” is an acceptance of the curses or sanctions entailed by breaking faith with the Lord. Cf. 30:15–20, a concise statement of covenant theology. “Cursed be anyone who makes a carved or molten idol,#Dt 4:15–20; 5:8–9; Ex 20:4, 23; 34:17; Lv 19:4; 26:1; Ps 115:4–8; Wis 14:8. an abomination to the Lord, the work of a craftsman’s hands, and sets it up in secret!” And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
16“Cursed be anyone who dishonors father or mother!”#Dt 5:16; 21:18–21; Ex 20:12; 21:17; Lv 20:9. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
17“Cursed be anyone who moves a neighbor’s boundary markers!”#Dt 19:14. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
18“Cursed be anyone who misleads the blind on their way!”#Lv 19:14. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
19“Cursed be anyone who deprives the resident alien, the orphan or the widow of justice!”#Dt 24:17–18; Ex 22:21–24; 23:9; Lv 19:33–34. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
20“Cursed be anyone who has relations with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed!”#Dt 23:1; Lv 18:7–8; 20:11. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
21“Cursed be anyone who has relations with any animal!”#Ex 22:18; Lv 18:23; 20:15–16. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
22“Cursed be anyone who has relations with his sister, whether his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter!”#Lv 18:9; 20:17. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
23“Cursed be anyone who has relations with his mother-in-law!”#Lv 18:17; 20:14. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
24“Cursed be anyone who strikes down a neighbor in secret!”#Dt 5:17; 21:1; Ex 20:13; 21:12; Nm 35:20–21. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
25“Cursed be anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person!”#Dt 16:19; Ex 23:7–8. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
26“Cursed be anyone whose actions do not uphold the words of this law!”#Jer 11:3; Gal 3:10. And all the people shall answer, “Amen!”
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Deuteronomy 27: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Deuteronomy 27
27
1 Then Moses and the elders of Israel instructed the people, saying: "Keep each commandment that I instruct to you this day.
2 And 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 plaster,
3 so 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 fathers.
4 Therefore, 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 plaster,
5 and you shall build, in that place, an altar to the Lord your God out of stones which have not been touched by iron,
6 out of stones which have not been hewn or polished. And you shall offer holocausts on it to the Lord your God.
7 And you shall immolate peace victims. And you shall eat and feast in that place, in the sight of the Lord your God.
8 And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this law, plainly and clearly."
9 And 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 God.
10 You shall listen to his voice, and you shall do the commandments and justices, which I am entrusting to you."
11 And Moses instructed the people in that day, saying:
12 "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 Benjamin.
13 And in the opposite region, there shall stand upon Mount Ebal, as a curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 And the Levites shall pronounce and declare to all the men of Israel, with an exalted voice:
15 Cursed 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: Amen.
16 Cursed be he who does not honor his father and mother. And all the people shall say: Amen.
17 Cursed be he who removes his neighbor's landmarks. And all the people shall say: Amen.
18 Cursed be he who causes the blind to go astray on a journey. And all the people shall say: Amen.
19 Cursed be he who subverts the judgment of the new arrival, the orphan, or the widow. And all the people shall say: Amen.
20 Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife, and so exposes the covering of his bed. And all the people shall say: Amen.
21 Cursed be he who lies with any beast. And all the people shall say: Amen.
22 Cursed be he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or of his mother. And all the people shall say: Amen.
23 Cursed be he who lies with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say: Amen.
24 Cursed be he who secretly strikes down his neighbor. And all the people shall say: Amen.
25 Cursed be he who accepts gifts in order to strike down the life of innocent blood. And all the people shall say: Amen.
26 Cursed 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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