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Deuteronomy 26-28
The Message
Deuteronomy 26-28
The Message
26 1-5 Once you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance and take it over and settle down, you are to take some of all the firstfruits of what you grow in the land that God, your God, is giving you, put them in a basket and go to the place God, your God, sets apart for you to worship him. At that time, go to the priest who is there and say, “I announce to God, your God, today that I have entered the land that God promised our ancestors that he’d give to us.” The priest will take the basket from you and place it on the Altar of God, your God. And there in the Presence of God, your God, you will recite:
5-10 A wandering Aramean was my father,
he went down to Egypt and sojourned there,
he and just a handful of his brothers at first, but soon
they became a great nation, mighty and many.
The Egyptians abused and battered us,
in a cruel and savage slavery.
We cried out to God, the God-of-Our-Fathers:
He listened to our voice, he saw
our destitution, our trouble, our cruel plight.
And God took us out of Egypt
with his strong hand and long arm, terrible and great,
with signs and miracle-wonders.
And he brought us to this place,
gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.
So here I am. I’ve brought the firstfruits
of what I’ve grown on this ground you gave me, O God.
10-11 Then place it in the Presence of God, your God. Bow low in the Presence of God, your God. And rejoice! Celebrate all the good things that God, your God, has given you and your family; you and the Levite and the foreigner who lives with you.
* * *
12-14 Every third year, the year of the tithe, give a tenth of your produce to the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow so that they may eat their fill in your cities. And then, in the Presence of God, your God, say this:
I have brought the sacred share,
I’ve given it to the Levite, foreigner, orphan, and widow.
What you commanded, I’ve done.
I haven’t detoured around your commands,
I haven’t forgotten a single one.
I haven’t eaten from the sacred share while mourning,
I haven’t removed any of it while ritually unclean,
I haven’t used it in funeral feasts.
I have listened obediently to the Voice of God, my God,
I have lived the way you commanded me.
15 Look down from your holy house in Heaven!
Bless your people Israel and the ground you gave us,
just as you promised our ancestors you would,
this land flowing with milk and honey.
* * *
16-17 This very day God, your God, commands you to follow these rules and regulations, to live them out with everything you have in you. You’ve renewed your vows today that God is your God, that you’ll live the way he shows you; do what he tells you in the rules, regulations, and commandments; and listen obediently to him.
18-19 And today God has reaffirmed that you are dearly held treasure just as he promised, a people entrusted with keeping his commandments, a people set high above all other nations that he’s made, high in praise, fame, and honor: you’re a people holy to God, your God. That’s what he has promised.
* * *
27 1-3 Moses commanded the leaders of Israel and charged the people: Keep every commandment that I command you today. On the day you cross the Jordan into the land that God, your God, is giving you, erect large stones and coat them with plaster. As soon as you cross over the river, write on the stones all the words of this Revelation so that you’ll enter the land that God, your God, is giving you, that land flowing with milk and honey that God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, promised you.
4-7 So when you’ve crossed the Jordan, erect these stones on Mount Ebal. Then coat them with plaster. Build an Altar of stones for God, your God, there on the mountain. Don’t use an iron tool on the stones; build the Altar to God, your God, with uncut stones and offer your Whole-Burnt-Offerings on it to God, your God. When you sacrifice your Peace-Offerings you will also eat them there, rejoicing in the Presence of God, your God.
8 Write all the words of this Revelation on the stones. Incise them sharply.
9-10 Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel: Quiet. Listen obediently, Israel. This very day you have become the people of God, your God. Listen to the Voice of God, your God. Keep his commandments and regulations that I’m commanding you today.
11-13 That day Moses commanded: After you’ve crossed the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. And these will stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14-26 The Levites, acting as spokesmen and speaking loudly, will address Israel:
God’s curse on anyone who carves or casts a god-image—an abomination to God made by a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who demeans a parent.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who misdirects a blind man on the road.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who interferes with justice due the foreigner, orphan, or widow.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who has sex with his father’s wife; he has violated the woman who belongs to his father.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who has sex with an animal.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who has sex with his sister, the daughter of his father or mother.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who has sex with his mother-in-law.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who kills his neighbor in secret.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on anyone who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
God’s curse on whoever does not give substance to the words of this Revelation by living them.
All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
* * *
28 1-6 If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:
God’s blessing inside the city,
God’s blessing in the country;
God’s blessing on your children,
the crops of your land,
the young of your livestock,
the calves of your herds,
the lambs of your flocks.
God’s blessing on your basket and bread bowl;
God’s blessing in your coming in,
God’s blessing in your going out.
7 God will defeat your enemies who attack you. They’ll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.
8 God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he’ll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.
9 God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you.
10 All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe.
11-14 God will lavish you with good things: children from your womb, offspring from your animals, and crops from your land, the land that God promised your ancestors that he would give you. God will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won’t have to take out a loan. God will make you the head, not the tail; you’ll always be the top dog, never the underdog, as you obediently listen to and diligently keep the commands of God, your God, that I am commanding you today. Don’t swerve an inch to the right or left from the words that I command you today by going off following and worshiping other gods.
15-19 Here’s what will happen if you don’t obediently listen to the Voice of God, your God, and diligently keep all the commandments and guidelines that I’m commanding you today. All these curses will come down hard on you:
God’s curse in the city,
God’s curse in the country;
God’s curse on your basket and bread bowl;
God’s curse on your children,
the crops of your land,
the young of your livestock,
the calves of your herds,
the lambs of your flocks.
God’s curse in your coming in,
God’s curse in your going out.
20 God will send The Curse, The Confusion, The Contrariness down on everything you try to do until you’ve been destroyed and there’s nothing left of you—all because of your evil pursuits that led you to abandon me.
21 God will infect you with The Disease, wiping you right off the land that you’re going in to possess.
22 God will set consumption and fever and rash and seizures and dehydration and blight and jaundice on you. They’ll hunt you down until they kill you.
23-24 The sky over your head will become an iron roof, the ground under your feet, a slab of concrete. From out of the skies God will rain ash and dust down on you until you suffocate.
25-26 God will defeat you by enemy attack. You’ll come at your enemies on one road and run away on seven roads. All the kingdoms of Earth will see you as a horror. Carrion birds and animals will boldly feast on your dead body with no one to chase them away.
27-29 God will hit you hard with the boils of Egypt, hemorrhoids, scabs, and an incurable itch. He’ll make you go crazy and blind and senile. You’ll grope around in the middle of the day like a blind person feeling his way through a lifetime of darkness; you’ll never get to where you’re going. Not a day will go by that you’re not abused and robbed. And no one is going to help you.
30-31 You’ll get engaged to a woman and another man will take her for his mistress; you’ll build a house and never live in it; you’ll plant a garden and never eat so much as a carrot; you’ll watch your ox get butchered and not get a single steak from it; your donkey will be stolen from in front of you and you’ll never see it again; your sheep will be sent off to your enemies and no one will lift a hand to help you.
32-34 Your sons and daughters will be shipped off to foreigners; you’ll wear your eyes out looking vainly for them, helpless to do a thing. Your crops and everything you work for will be eaten and used by foreigners; you’ll spend the rest of your lives abused and knocked around. What you see will drive you crazy.
35 God will hit you with painful boils on your knees and legs and no healing or relief from head to foot.
36-37 God will lead you and the king you set over you to a country neither you nor your ancestors have heard of; there you’ll worship other gods, no-gods of wood and stone. Among all the peoples where God will take you, you’ll be treated as a lesson or a proverb—a horror!
38-42 You’ll plant sacks and sacks of seed in the field but get almost nothing—the grasshoppers will devour it. You’ll plant and hoe and prune vineyards but won’t drink or put up any wine—the worms will devour them. You’ll have groves of olive trees everywhere, but you’ll have no oil to rub on your face or hands—the olives will have fallen off. You’ll have sons and daughters but they won’t be yours for long—they’ll go off to captivity. Locusts will take over all your trees and crops.
43-44 The foreigner who lives among you will climb the ladder, higher and higher, while you go deeper and deeper into the hole. He’ll lend to you; you won’t lend to him. He’ll be the head; you’ll be the tail.
45-46 All these curses are going to come on you. They’re going to hunt you down and get you until there’s nothing left of you because you didn’t obediently listen to the Voice of God, your God, and diligently keep his commandments and guidelines that I commanded you. The curses will serve as signposts, warnings to your children ever after.
47-48 Because you didn’t serve God, your God, out of the joy and goodness of your heart in the great abundance, you’ll have to serve your enemies whom God will send against you. Life will be famine and drought, rags and wretchedness; then he’ll put an iron yoke on your neck until he’s destroyed you.
48-52 Yes, God will raise up a faraway nation against you, swooping down on you like an eagle, a nation whose language you can’t understand, a mean-faced people, cruel to grandmothers and babies alike. They’ll ravage the young of your animals and the crops from your fields until you’re destroyed. They’ll leave nothing behind: no grain, no wine, no oil, no calves, no lambs—and finally, no you. They’ll lay siege to you while you’re huddled behind your town gates. They’ll knock those high, proud walls flat, those walls behind which you felt so safe. They’ll lay siege to your fortified cities all over the country, this country that God, your God, has given you.
53-55 And you’ll end up cannibalizing your own sons and daughters that God, your God, has given you. When the suffering from the siege gets extreme, you’re going to eat your own babies. The most gentle and caring man among you will turn hard, his eye evil, against his own brother, his cherished wife, and even the rest of his children who are still alive, refusing to share with them a scrap of meat from the cannibal child-stew he is eating. He’s lost everything, even his humanity, in the suffering of the siege that your enemy mounts against your fortified towns.
56-57 And the most gentle and caring woman among you, a woman who wouldn’t step on a wildflower, will turn hard, her eye evil, against her cherished husband, against her son, against her daughter, against even the afterbirth of her newborn infants; she plans to eat them in secret—she does eat them!—because she has lost everything, even her humanity, in the suffering of the siege that your enemy mounts against your fortified towns.
58-61 If you don’t diligently keep all the words of this Revelation written in this book, living in holy awe before This Name glorious and terrible, God, your God, then God will pound you with catastrophes, you and your children, huge interminable catastrophes, hideous interminable illnesses. He’ll bring back and stick you with every old Egyptian malady that once terrorized you. And yes, every disease and catastrophe imaginable—things not even written in the Book of this Revelation—God will bring on you until you’re destroyed.
62 Because you didn’t listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, you’ll be left with a few pitiful stragglers in place of the dazzling stars-in-the-heavens multitude you had become.
63-66 And this is how things will end up: Just as God once enjoyed you, took pleasure in making life good for you, giving you many children, so God will enjoy getting rid of you, clearing you off the Earth. He’ll weed you out of the very soil that you are entering in to possess. He’ll scatter you to the four winds, from one end of the Earth to the other. You’ll worship all kinds of other gods, gods neither you nor your parents ever heard of, wood and stone no-gods. But you won’t find a home there, you’ll not be able to settle down. God will give you a restless heart, longing eyes, a homesick soul. You will live in constant jeopardy, terrified of every shadow, never knowing what you’ll meet around the next corner.
67 In the morning you’ll say, “I wish it were evening.” In the evening you’ll say, “I wish it were morning.” Afraid, terrorized at what’s coming next, afraid of the unknown, because of the sights you’ve witnessed.
68 God will ship you back to Egypt by a road I promised you’d never see again. There you’ll offer yourselves for sale, both men and women, as slaves to your enemies. And not a buyer to be found.
Deuteronomy 26-28
New International Version
Deuteronomy 26-28
New International Version
Firstfruits and Tithes
26 When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits(A) of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name(B) 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering(C) Aramean,(D) and he went down into Egypt with a few people(E) and lived there and became a great nation,(F) powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer,(G) subjecting us to harsh labor.(H) 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice(I) and saw(J) our misery,(K) toil and oppression.(L) 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt(M) with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,(N) with great terror and with signs and wonders.(O) 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;(P) 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.(Q)” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites(R) and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice(S) in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth(T) of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe,(U) you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.(V) 14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean,(W) nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from heaven,(X) your holy dwelling place, and bless(Y) your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Follow the Lord’s Commands
16 The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.(Z) 17 You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.(AA) 18 And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession(AB) as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise,(AC) fame and honor high above all the nations(AD) he has made and that you will be a people holy(AE) to the Lord your God, as he promised.
The Altar on Mount Ebal
27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands(AF) that I give you today. 2 When you have crossed the Jordan(AG) into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones(AH) and coat them with plaster.(AI) 3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey,(AJ) just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal,(AK) as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. 5 Build there an altar(AL) to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool(AM) on them. 6 Build the altar of the Lord your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings(AN) there, eating them and rejoicing(AO) in the presence of the Lord your God.(AP) 8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones(AQ) you have set up.”(AR)
Curses From Mount Ebal
9 Then Moses and the Levitical(AS) priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.(AT) 10 Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
11 On the same day Moses commanded the people:
12 When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim(AU) to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar,(AV) Joseph and Benjamin.(AW) 13 And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal(AX) to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice:
15 “Cursed is anyone who makes an idol(AY)—a thing detestable(AZ) to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.”
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”(BA)
16 “Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.”(BB)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
17 “Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.”(BC)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
18 “Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.”(BD)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner,(BE) the fatherless or the widow.”(BF)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
20 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.”(BG)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
21 “Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.”(BH)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
22 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.”(BI)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
23 “Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.”(BJ)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
24 “Cursed is anyone who kills(BK) their neighbor secretly.”(BL)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.”(BM)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
26 “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.”(BN)
Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”(BO)
Blessings for Obedience
28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow(BP) all his commands(BQ) I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.(BR) 2 All these blessings will come on you(BS) and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
3 You will be blessed(BT) in the city and blessed in the country.(BU)
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.(BV)
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.(BW)
7 The Lord will grant that the enemies(BX) who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.(BY)
8 The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless(BZ) you in the land he is giving you.
9 The Lord will establish you as his holy people,(CA) as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands(CB) of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name(CC) of the Lord, and they will fear you. 11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock(CD) and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.(CE)
12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse(CF) of his bounty,(CG) to send rain(CH) on your land in season and to bless(CI) all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.(CJ) 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow(CK) them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.(CL) 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left,(CM) following other gods and serving them.
Curses for Disobedience
15 However, if you do not obey(CN) the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today,(CO) all these curses will come on you and overtake you:(CP)
16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.(CQ)
17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.(CR)
18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.(CS)
19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.(CT)
20 The Lord will send on you curses,(CU) confusion and rebuke(CV) in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin(CW) because of the evil(CX) you have done in forsaking him.[a] 21 The Lord will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you from the land you are entering to possess.(CY) 22 The Lord will strike you with wasting disease,(CZ) with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought,(DA) with blight(DB) and mildew, which will plague(DC) you until you perish.(DD) 23 The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.(DE) 24 The Lord will turn the rain(DF) of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.
25 The Lord will cause you to be defeated(DG) before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven,(DH) and you will become a thing of horror(DI) to all the kingdoms on earth.(DJ) 26 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds(DK) and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.(DL) 27 The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt(DM) and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured. 28 The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. 29 At midday you will grope(DN) about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue(DO) you.
30 You will be pledged to be married to a woman, but another will take her and rape her.(DP) You will build a house, but you will not live in it.(DQ) You will plant a vineyard, but you will not even begin to enjoy its fruit.(DR) 31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it. Your donkey will be forcibly taken from you and will not be returned. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will rescue them. 32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation,(DS) and you will wear out your eyes watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand. 33 A people that you do not know will eat what your land and labor produce, and you will have nothing but cruel oppression(DT) all your days.(DU) 34 The sights you see will drive you mad.(DV) 35 The Lord will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils(DW) that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.(DX)
36 The Lord will drive you and the king(DY) you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors.(DZ) There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone.(EA) 37 You will become a thing of horror,(EB) a byword(EC) and an object of ridicule(ED) among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you.(EE)
38 You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little,(EF) because locusts(EG) will devour(EH) it. 39 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine(EI) or gather the grapes, because worms will eat(EJ) them.(EK) 40 You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.(EL) 41 You will have sons and daughters but you will not keep them, because they will go into captivity.(EM) 42 Swarms of locusts(EN) will take over all your trees and the crops of your land.
43 The foreigners who reside among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower.(EO) 44 They will lend to you, but you will not lend to them.(EP) They will be the head, but you will be the tail.(EQ)
45 All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you(ER) until you are destroyed,(ES) because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you. 46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.(ET) 47 Because you did not serve(EU) the Lord your God joyfully and gladly(EV) in the time of prosperity, 48 therefore in hunger and thirst,(EW) in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. He will put an iron yoke(EX) on your neck(EY) until he has destroyed you.
49 The Lord will bring a nation against you(EZ) from far away, from the ends of the earth,(FA) like an eagle(FB) swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand,(FC) 50 a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old(FD) or pity for the young. 51 They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine(FE) or olive oil,(FF) nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your flocks until you are ruined.(FG) 52 They will lay siege(FH) to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the land the Lord your God is giving you.(FI)
53 Because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege, you will eat the fruit of the womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters the Lord your God has given you.(FJ) 54 Even the most gentle and sensitive man among you will have no compassion on his own brother or the wife he loves or his surviving children, 55 and he will not give to one of them any of the flesh of his children that he is eating. It will be all he has left because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of all your cities.(FK) 56 The most gentle and sensitive(FL) woman among you—so sensitive and gentle that she would not venture to touch the ground with the sole of her foot—will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter(FM) 57 the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. For in her dire need she intends to eat them(FN) secretly because of the suffering your enemy will inflict on you during the siege of your cities.
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law,(FO) which are written in this book, and do not revere(FP) this glorious and awesome name(FQ)—the Lord your God— 59 the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. 60 He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt(FR) that you dreaded, and they will cling to you. 61 The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law,(FS) until you are destroyed.(FT) 62 You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky(FU) will be left but few(FV) in number, because you did not obey the Lord your God. 63 Just as it pleased(FW) the Lord to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please(FX) him to ruin and destroy you.(FY) You will be uprooted(FZ) from the land you are entering to possess.
64 Then the Lord will scatter(GA) you among all nations,(GB) from one end of the earth to the other.(GC) There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known.(GD) 65 Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place(GE) for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you an anxious mind, eyes(GF) weary with longing, and a despairing heart.(GG) 66 You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life. 67 In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”—because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.(GH) 68 The Lord will send you back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said you should never make again.(GI) There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 28:20 Hebrew me
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
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