The Altar on Mount Ebal
1Moses and the elders of Israel gave commands to the people. They said, “Obey all the commands we’re giving you today. 2You will go across the Jordan River. You will enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you do, set up some large stones. Put a coat of plaster on them. 3Write all the words of this law on them. Do it when you have crossed over into the land the Lord your God is giving you. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. The Lord is the God of your people of long ago. He promised you that you would enter the land. 4After you have gone across the Jordan, set up those stones on Mount Ebal. Put a coat of plaster on them. We’re commanding you today to do that. 5Build an altar there to honor the Lord your God. Make it out of stones. Don’t use any iron tool on them. 6Use stones you find in the fields to build his altar. Then offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7Sacrifice friendship offerings there. Eat them and be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. 8You must write all the words of this law on the stones you have set up. Write the words very clearly.”
Curses for Not Obeying the Lord
9Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, spoke to all the Israelites. They said, “Israel, be quiet! Listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God. 10Obey him. Obey his commands and rules that we’re giving you today.”
11Here are the commands Moses gave the people that same day.
12You will go across the Jordan River. When you do, six tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Those tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. 13The other six tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to announce some curses. Those tribes are Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.
14The Levites will speak to all the Israelites in a loud voice. The Levites will say,
15“May anyone who makes a statue of a god and sets it up in secret be under the Lord’s curse. That statue is made by a skilled worker. And the Lord hates it.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
16“May anyone who brings shame on their father or mother be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
17“May anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
18“May anyone who leads blind people down the wrong road be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
19“May anyone who treats unfairly outsiders, widows, and children whose fathers have died be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
20“May anyone who sleeps with his stepmother be under the Lord’s curse. That man brings shame on his father by doing that.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
21“May anyone who has sex with animals be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
22“May anyone who sleeps with his sister be under the Lord’s curse. It doesn’t matter whether she is his full sister or his half sister.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
23“May anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
24“May anyone who kills their neighbor secretly be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
25“May anyone who accepts money to kill someone who isn’t guilty of doing anything wrong be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
26“May anyone who doesn’t honor the words of this law by obeying them be under the Lord’s curse.”
Then all the people will say, “Amen!”
O altar no monte Ebal
1Então Moisés e os anciãos de Israel deram ainda mais estas instruções ao povo, para que as cumprissem: 2“Quando passarem para o lado de lá do rio Jordão e entrarem na terra prometida, que o Senhor, vosso Deus, vos dá, peguem em pedras grandes, 3-4tiradas do próprio leito do rio, e escrevam nelas a Lei de Deus. Assim entrarão numa terra onde jorra leite e mel e que o Senhor, Deus dos vossos antepassados, vos prometeu e ali levantarão um monumento na outra margem, no monte Ebal; cubram as pedras com cal. 5-6Construam ali um altar ao Senhor, vosso Deus. Usem pedras não talhadas e ofereçam sobre esse altar holocaustos ao Senhor, vosso Deus. 7Sacrifiquem ofertas de paz e celebrem uma festa com grande júbilo na presença do Senhor, vosso Deus. 8Escrevam as palavras desta Lei com toda a clareza.”
Maldição do monte Ebal
9Depois Moisés e os sacerdotes levitas dirigiram-se a todo o Israel desta maneira. “Israelitas, ouçam bem! Hoje tornaram-se o povo do Senhor, vosso Deus. 10Ouçam aquilo que o Senhor, vosso Deus, vos ordena e obedeçam a todos estes mandamentos que hoje vos dou.”
11Nesse mesmo dia, Moisés deu esta ordem ao povo: 12Quando tiverem passado para a terra prometida, as tribos de Simeão, de Levi, de Judá, de Issacar, de José e de Benjamim pôr-se-ão sobre o monte Gerizim para proclamar uma bênção ao povo; 13as tribos de Rúben, de Gad, de Aser, de Zebulão, de Dan e de Naftali estarão no monte Ebal para proclamarem uma maldição.
14Os levitas colocar-se-ão entre eles e gritarão a todo o Israel:
15“Maldito quem fizer e adorar um ídolo, mesmo em segredo, seja esculpido em madeira ou feito de metal fundido, porque o Senhor odeia esses deuses feitos pela mão do homem.” E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
16“Maldito é quem desprezar o pai ou a mãe.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
17“Maldito é quem alterar as marcas que distinguem o seu campo do outro do vizinho.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
18“Maldito é quem se aproveita dum cego e o explora.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
19“Maldito é quem for injusto para com um estrangeiro, um órfão ou uma viúva.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
20“Maldito é quem comete adultério com uma das mulheres do seu pai, visto que ela pertence ao pai.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
21“Maldito é quem tiver relação sexual com um animal.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
22“Maldito é quem tiver relações sexuais com a sua irmã, mesmo que se trate de uma meia-irmã.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
23“Maldito é quem tiver relações sexuais com a sogra.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
24“Maldito é quem assassinar secretamente outra pessoa.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
25“Maldito é quem aceitar um pagamento para matar uma pessoa inocente.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
26“Maldito é quem não põe em prática as palavras deste livro da Lei.”
E todo o povo responderá: “Assim seja!”
