Stones Inscribed with the Law

1 Moses and Israel’s wise men commanded the people, “Keep all the commandments I command you today. 2 On the day you cross the Jordan to the land the Lord your God gives you, set up large stones and plaster them with lime. 3 Write all the words of this Law on them when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the Lord your God gives you, a land producing fruit, pure as milk and sweet as honey, as the Lord your God told you. 4 When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones I command you about today on Mount Ebal, and plaster them with lime. 5 Build an altar before the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not pass an iron tool over them. 6 Build the altar of the Lord your God with precious stones, whole and without defect, and arrange burnt offerings upon it before the Lord your God. 7 Sacrifice sacred sacrifices, eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God. 8 Write all the words of this Law upon the stones, written, engraved, and clearly explained, to be read and translated into seventy languages.”⁠a

The Covenant Declaration

9 Moses and the Levitical priests spoke with all Israel: “Pay attention and listen, Israel. Today you have been appointed a people before the Lord your God. 10 Listen to the voice of the Memra of the Lord your God, and obey his commandments and his statutes that I command you today.”

Blessings and Curses on the Mountains

11 Moses commanded the people that day, 12 “When you cross the Jordan, these must stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These must stand on Mount Ebal for the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 The Levites must declare to all the people, the sons of Israel, in a loud voice: 15 Six tribes went up Mount Gerizim, and six tribes went up Mount Ebal, with the priests and the ark in the middle and all Israel on either side. Those blessing turned toward Mount Gerizim and said, ‘Blessed is the man who makes no ⟨figure or image⟩ or any likeness, something detestable and abhorrent before the Lord, the work of a craftsman’s hands, and does not set it in a hidden place.’ Those cursing turned toward Mount Ebal and said, ‘Cursed is the man who makes a ⟨figure or image⟩ or any likeness, something detestable and abhorrent before the Lord, the work of a craftsman’s hands, and sets it in a hidden place.’ All the people answer together, ‘Amen.’ 16 ‘Cursed is the man who despises the honor of his father and mother.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 17 ‘Cursed is the man who encroaches on another man’s boundary.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 18 ‘Cursed is the man who misleads a blind person on the road.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 19 ‘Cursed is the man who perverts justice for a resident foreigner, an orphan, or a widow.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 20 ‘Cursed is the man who has intercourse with his father’s wife, for he exposes his father’s nakedness.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 21 ‘Cursed is the man who has intercourse with any animal.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 22 ‘Cursed is the man who has intercourse with his sister, the daughter of his father or his mother.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 23 ‘Cursed is the man who has intercourse with his mother-in-law.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 24 ⟨‘Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’⟩ 25 ‘Cursed is the man who takes a bribe to kill someone innocent of blood.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’ 26 ‘Cursed is the man who does not fulfill the words of this Law by doing them.’ All the people must say, ‘Amen.’”