The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Torah (Pentateuch) and is recognized as canonical by all major Christian traditions and by Judaism. The English title derives from the Greek 'Deuteronomion', meaning 'second law', reflecting the reaffirmation and expansion of the law given at Sinai. The Hebrew name 'Devarim' means 'words'. The book consists of three discourses by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab, before they entered the Promised Land, reviewing the history of the desert wandering and reiterating the covenant with God.
Deuteronomy
Chapter 27
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, "Keep all the commandments which I command you today.
It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and plaster them with plaster.
You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.
It shall be, when you have passed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster.
There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them.
You shall build the LORD your God's altar of uncut stones. You shall offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.
You shall sacrifice peace offerings, and shall eat there. You shall rejoice before the LORD your God.
You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly."
Moses and the priests the Levites spoke to all Israel, saying, "Be silent and listen, Israel! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.
You shall therefore obey the LORD your God's voice, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today."
Moses commanded the people the same day, saying,
"These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
The Levites shall answer, and tell all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
'Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' All the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who removes his neighbor's landmark.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who makes the blind to wander out of the way.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'
'Cursed is he who doesn't uphold the words of this law to do them.' All the people shall say, 'Amen.'