Deuteronomy 27

The Curses of Mount Ebal

1Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today. 21So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime 3and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, 2a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, 3promised you. 4So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up 4on Mount Ebal, these stones, 5as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime. 5Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you 6shall not 7wield an iron tool on them. 6You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of 8uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord your God; 7and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and 9rejoice before the Lord your God. 8You shall write on the 10stones all the words of this law very distinctly.”

9Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. 10You shall therefore 11obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

11Moses also charged the people on that day, saying, 12“When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on 12Mount Gerizim to bless the people: 13Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15‘Cursed is the man who makes 1415an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And 16all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

16‘17Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

17‘18Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

18‘19Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

19‘20Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, 21orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

20‘22Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

21‘23Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

22‘24Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

23‘25Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

24‘26Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

25‘27Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

26‘28Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’