Deuteronomy 26–27

26TH CHAPTER

A Reminder to Keep God’s Laws

¹Soon you will enter and take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as your property. When you have settled there, ²take some of the first produce harvested from the fields in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the Lord your God will choose for his name to live. ³Go to the priest who is serving at that time, and tell him, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land that the Lord is giving us, as he swore to our ancestors.” ⁴Then the priest will take the basket from you and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. ⁵You will make this formal statement in the presence of the Lord your God: “My ancestors were wandering Arameans. There were only a few of them when they went to Egypt and lived as foreigners. But then they became a great, powerful, and large nation. ⁶So the Egyptians treated us cruelly, oppressed us, and made us do back-breaking work for them. ⁷We cried out to the Lord God of our ancestors, and he heard us. He saw our misery, suffering, and oppression. ⁸Then the Lord used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring us out of Egypt. He used spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds, miraculous signs, and amazing things. ⁹He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰So now I’ve brought the first produce harvested from the fields you gave me, Lord.” 

You will place the basket in the presence of the Lord your God and bow down in front of him. ¹¹Then you, the Levites, and the foreigners who live among you can enjoy all the good things which the Lord your God has given you and your family. 

¹²Every third year is the year when you will store a tenth of that year’s crops ⸤in your houses⸥. During that year distribute what you have stored to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows in your cities, and they may eat all they want. ¹³When you have distributed all that was stored, say to the Lord your God, “Nothing is left of the holy offering stored in my house. I distributed it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows as you commanded me. I disobeyed none of your commands, and I didn’t forget to do what you commanded. ¹⁴I didn’t eat any of this holy offering while I was in mourning. I didn’t distribute any of it while I was unclean.^aI didn’t offer any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God. I have done everything you commanded me. ¹⁵Look down from your holy place in heaven. Bless your people Israel and the land flowing with milk and honey that you have given us, as you promised with an oath to our ancestors.” 

¹⁶Today the Lord your God is commanding you to obey these laws and rules. You must faithfully obey them with all your heart and with all your soul. ¹⁷Today you have declared that the Lord is your God and that you will follow his directions, obey his laws, commands, and rules, and listen to him. ¹⁸Today the Lord has declared that you are his people, his own special possession, as he told you. But you must be sure to obey his commands. ¹⁹Then he will place you high above all the other nations he has made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised. 

27TH CHAPTER

Write the Law on Stones

¹Moses and the leaders of Israel told the people, “Obey every command I’m giving you today. 

²“The day you cross the Jordan River and enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and cover them with plaster. ³The Lord God of your ancestors is giving you a land flowing with milk and honey, as he promised you. After you’re in that land, write all the words of these teachings on the stones. ⁴After you cross the Jordan River, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, and cover them with plaster, following the command I’m giving you today. ⁵Build an altar of stones there dedicated to the Lord your God. Don’t use an iron chisel on the stones. ⁶You must use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God. Sacrifice burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. ⁷Sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat them there, and enjoy yourselves in the presence of the Lord your God. ⁸Write clearly and carefully all the words of these teachings on the stones you set up.” 

⁹Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be quiet and listen, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. ¹⁰Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and laws which I’m giving you today.” 

Curses Which Are to Be Recited

¹¹That same day Moses gave the people this command: ¹²After you cross the Jordan River, these are the tribes that will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. ¹³These are the tribes that will stand on Mount Ebal to announce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 

¹⁴The Levites will declare to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: 

¹⁵“Whoever has a carved or metal statue, anything disgusting to the Lord that was made by a craftsman, and sets it up in secret will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

¹⁶“Whoever curses his father or mother will himself be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

¹⁷“Whoever moves his neighbor’s boundary marker will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

¹⁸“Whoever leads blind people in the wrong direction will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

¹⁹“Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²⁰“Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²¹“Whoever has sexual intercourse with any animal will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²²“Whoever has sexual intercourse with his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²³“Whoever has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²⁴“Whoever kills another person secretly will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²⁵“Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen. 

²⁶“Whoever doesn’t obey every word of these teachings will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.