Curses on Mount Ebal

1Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the entire commandment which I am commanding you today. 2So it will be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which Yahweh 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 Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, [†]promised you. 4So it will be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, [†]as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime. 5Moreover, you shall build there an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones; you shall not [†]wield an iron tool on them. 6You shall build the altar of Yahweh your God of [†]uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to Yahweh your God; 7and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there and be glad before Yahweh your God. 8And you shall write on the [†]stones 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 Yahweh your God. 10You shall therefore listen to the voice of Yahweh your God and do His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today.”

11Moses also commanded the people on that day, saying, 12“When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, 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 a graven image or a molten image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

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

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

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

19‘Cursed is he who perverts the justice due a sojourner, [†]orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

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

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

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

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

25‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to strike down [†]innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

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