Deuteronomy 27:1-28:19

New International Version

The Altar on Mount Ebal

27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands^(A) that I give you today. ² When you have crossed the Jordan^(B) into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones^(C) and coat them with plaster.^{(D) 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,^(E) 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,^(F) as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. ⁵ Build there an altar^(G) to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool^(H) 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^(I) there, eating them and rejoicing^(J) in the presence of the Lord your God.^{(K) 8} And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones^(L) you have set up.”^(M)

Curses From Mount Ebal

⁹ Then Moses and the Levitical^(N) priests said to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.^{(O) 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^(P) to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar,^(Q) Joseph and Benjamin.^{(R) 13} And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal^(S) 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:

Blessings for Obedience

28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow^(AK) all his commands^(AL) I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.^{(AM) 2} All these blessings will come on you^(AN) and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

⁷ The Lord will grant that the enemies^(AS) who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.^(AT)

⁸ The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless^(AU) you in the land he is giving you.

⁹ The Lord will establish you as his holy people,^(AV) as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands^(AW) 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^(AX) 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^(AY) and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.^(AZ)

¹² The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse^(BA) of his bounty,^(BB) to send rain^(BC) on your land in season and to bless^(BD) all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.^{(BE) 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^(BF) them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.^{(BG) 14} Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left,^(BH) following other gods and serving them.

Curses for Disobedience

¹⁵ However, if you do not obey^(BI) the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today,^(BJ) all these curses will come on you and overtake you:^(BK)