Deuteronomy 27 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Moses and the elders (leaders) of Israel spoke to the people. Moses said, “Obey all the commands that I give you today.

² You will soon go across the Jordan River into the land that the Lord your God is giving you. On that day, you must put up large stones. Cover those stones with plaster. [169]

³ Then write on those stones all these commands and teachings. You must do this when you go across the Jordan River. Then you may go into the land that the Lord your God is giving you—a land filled with many good things. [170] The Lord, the God of your ancestors, [171] promised to give you this land.

⁴ “After you go across the Jordan River, you must do the things I command you today. You must set up the stones on Mount Ebal. You must cover these stones with plaster. [172]

⁵ Also, use some stones there to build an altar [173] to the Lord your God. Don’t use iron tools to cut the stones.

⁶ You must not use cut stones to build the altar for the Lord your God. Offer burnt offerings on this altar to the Lord your God.

⁷ And you must sacrifice and eat fellowship offerings there. Eat and enjoy yourselves there together with the Lord your God.

⁸ You must write all of these teachings on the stones that you set up. Write clearly so they are easy to read.”

⁹ Moses, the priests, and the Levites spoke to all the people of Israel. Moses said, “Be quiet and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God.

¹⁰ So you must do everything that the Lord your God tells you. You must obey his commands and his laws that I am giving you today.”

¹¹ The same day, Moses also told the people,

¹² “After you have gone across the Jordan River, these family groups will stand on Mount Gerizim to read the blessings to the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

¹³ And these family groups will stand on Mount Ebal to read the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

¹⁴ “And the Levites [174] will say to all the people of Israel with a loud voice:

¹⁵ ‘Cursed is the person that makes a false god and puts it in its secret place. Those false gods are only statues that some worker makes from wood, stone or metal. The Lord hates those things!’

¹⁶ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that does things that show he does not respect his father or his mother!’

¹⁷ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that moves his neighbor’s landmark [176] !’

¹⁸ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that is mean to a blind man and tricks him into walking off the road!’

¹⁹ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that does not give fair judgment for the foreigners, orphans, [177] and widows [178] !’

²⁰ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that has sexual relations with his father’s wife. [179] Why? Because he brings shame to his father [180] !’

²¹ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that has sexual relations with any kind of animal!’

²² “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that has sexual relations with his sister or half sister!’

²³ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that has sexual relations with his mother-in-law!’

²⁴ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that kills another person, even if he is not caught!’

²⁵ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that takes money to kill an innocent person!’

²⁶ “{The Levites will say,} ‘Cursed is the person that does not support this law and agree to obey it.’