Deuteronomy 19 NLT NIV Parallel

◄ Deuteronomy 19 ►

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New Living Translation

New International Version

1“When the LORD your God destroys the nations whose land he is giving you, you will take over their land and settle in their towns and homes.

1When the LORD your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses,

2Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

2then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

3Survey the territory, and divide the land the LORD your God is giving you into three districts, with one of these cities in each district. Then anyone who has killed someone can flee to one of the cities of refuge for safety.

3Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.

4“If someone kills another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, the slayer may flee to any of these cities to live in safety.

4This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety--anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought.

5For example, suppose someone goes into the forest with a neighbor to cut wood. And suppose one of them swings an ax to chop down a tree, and the ax head flies off the handle, killing the other person. In such cases, the slayer may flee to one of the cities of refuge to live in safety.

5For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life.

6“If the distance to the nearest city of refuge is too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill the person who caused the death. Then the slayer would die unfairly, since he had never shown hostility toward the person who died.

6Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought.

7That is why I am commanding you to set aside three cities of refuge.

7This is why I command you to set aside for yourselves three cities.

8“And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them,

8If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he promised on oath to your ancestors, and gives you the whole land he promised them,

9you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you—if you always love the LORD your God and walk in his ways.)

9because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today--to love the LORD your God and to walk always in obedience to him--then you are to set aside three more cities.

10That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.

10Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

11“But suppose someone is hostile toward a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders him and then flees to one of the cities of refuge.

11But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities,

12In that case, the elders of the murderer’s hometown must send agents to the city of refuge to bring him back and hand him over to the dead person’s avenger to be put to death.

12the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die.

13Do not feel sorry for that murderer! Purge from Israel the guilt of murdering innocent people; then all will go well with you. Concern for Justice

13Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

14“When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.

14Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

15“You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

15One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

16“If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime,

16If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime,

17then both the accuser and accused must appear before the LORD by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time.

17the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.

18The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite,

18The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,

19you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you.

19then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you.

20Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing.

20The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.

21You must show no pity for the guilty! Your rule should be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

21Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

New International Version (NIV)

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