Deut.16.21

Don't plant fertility Asherah trees alongside the Altar of GOD, your God, that you build.

Deut.16.21

Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the LORD your God,

Deut.16.21

"You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the LORD your God.

Deut.16.21

"You must never set up an Asherah pole beside the altar of the LORD your God.

Deut.16.22

Don't set up phallic sex pillars--GOD, your God, hates them.

Deut.16.22

and do not erect a sacred stone, for these the LORD your God hates.

Deut.16.22

You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.

Deut.16.22

And never set up sacred pillars for worship, for the LORD your God hates them.

Deut.17.1

And don't sacrifice to GOD, your God, an ox or sheep that is defective or has anything at all wrong with it. That's an abomination, an insult to GOD, your God. [JC]

Deut.17.1

Do not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him.

Deut.17.1

"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Deut.17.1

"Never sacrifice a sick or defective ox or sheep to the LORD your God, for he detests such gifts.

Deut.17.2

If you find anyone within the towns that GOD, your God, is giving you doing what is wrong in GOD's eyes, breaking his covenant

Deut.17.2

If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the LORD gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God in violation of his covenant,

Deut.17.2

"If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, a man or a woman who has been wicked in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing His covenant,

Deut.17.2

"Suppose a man or woman among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, has done evil in the sight of the LORD your God and has violated the covenant

Deut.17.3

by going off to worship other gods, bowing down to them--the sun, say, or the moon, or any rebel sky-gods--

Deut.17.3

and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky,

Deut.17.3

who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded,

Deut.17.3

by serving other gods or by worshiping the sun, the moon, or any of the forces of heaven, which I have strictly forbidden.

Deut.17.4

look at the evidence and investigate carefully. If you find that it is true, that, in fact, an abomination has been committed in Israel,

Deut.17.4

and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,

Deut.17.4

and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel,

Deut.17.4

When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,

Deut.17.5

then you are to take the man or woman who did this evil thing outside your city gates and stone the man or the woman. Hurl stones at the person until dead.

Deut.17.5

take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.

Deut.17.5

then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones.

Deut.17.5

then that man or woman must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death.

Deut.17.6

But only on the testimony of two or three witnesses may a person be put to death. No one may be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Deut.17.6

On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Deut.17.6

Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Deut.17.6

But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be at least two or three witnesses.

Deut.17.7

The witnesses must throw the first stones in the execution, then the rest of the community joins in. You have to purge the evil from your community.

Deut.17.7

The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deut.17.7

The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.

Deut.17.7

The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people will join in. In this way, you will purge all evil from among you.

Deut.17.8

When matters of justice come up that are too much for you--hard cases regarding homicides, legal disputes, fights--take them up to the central place of worship that GOD, your God, has designated.

Deut.17.8

If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge-whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults-take them to the place the LORD your God will choose.

Deut.17.8

"If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses.

Deut.17.8

"Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide--for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such cases to the place the LORD your God will choose,

Deut.17.9

Bring them to the Levitical priests and the judge who is in office at the time. Consult them and they will hand down the decision for you.

Deut.17.9

Go to the priests, who are Levites, and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.

Deut.17.9

And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment.

Deut.17.9

where the Levitical priests and the judge on duty will hear the case and decide what to do.

Deut.17.10

Then carry out their verdict at the place designated by GOD, your God. Do what they tell you, in exactly the way they tell you.

Deut.17.10

You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they direct you to do.

Deut.17.10

You shall do according to the sentence which they pronounce upon you in that place which the LORD chooses. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they order you.

Deut.17.10

The decision they make at the place the LORD chooses will always stand. You must do exactly what they say.

Deut.17.11

Follow their instructions precisely: Don't leave out anything; don't add anything.

Deut.17.11

Act according to the law they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.

Deut.17.11

According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you.

Deut.17.11

After they have interpreted the law and reached a verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way.

Deut.17.12

Anyone who presumes to override or twist the decision handed down by the priest or judge who was acting in the Presence of GOD, your God, is as good as dead--root him out, rid Israel of the evil.

Deut.17.12

The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Deut.17.12

Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel.

Deut.17.12

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel.

Deut.17.13

Everyone will take notice and be impressed. That will put an end to presumptuous behavior. [JC]

Deut.17.13

All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not be contemptuous again.

Deut.17.13

And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously.

Deut.17.13

Then everyone will hear about it and be afraid to act so arrogantly.

Deut.17.14

When you enter the land that GOD, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, "I'm going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me,"

Deut.17.14

When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,"

Deut.17.14

"When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, "I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,'

Deut.17.14

"You will soon arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, and you will conquer it and settle there. Then you may begin to think, `We ought to have a king like the other nations around us.'

Deut.17.15

make sure you get yourself a king whom GOD, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don't take a foreigner--only a kinsman.

Deut.17.15

be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite.

Deut.17.15

you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.

Deut.17.15

If this happens, be sure that you select as king the man the LORD your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite, not a foreigner.

Deut.17.16

And make sure he doesn't build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because GOD told you, "You'll never go back there again!"

Deut.17.16

The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, "You are not to go back that way again."

Deut.17.16

But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, "You shall not return that way again.'

Deut.17.16

The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself, and he must never send his people to Egypt to buy horses there, for the LORD has told you, `You must never return to Egypt.'

Deut.17.17

And make sure he doesn't build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn't pile up a lot of silver and gold.

Deut.17.17

He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Deut.17.17

Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

Deut.17.17

The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will lead him away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate vast amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.

Deut.17.18

This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests.

Deut.17.18

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites.

Deut.17.18

"Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.

Deut.17.18

"When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself in the presence of the Levitical priests.

Deut.17.19

That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his GOD, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them.

Deut.17.19

It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees

Deut.17.19

And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes,

Deut.17.19

He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of this law.

Deut.17.20

He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons. [JC]

Deut.17.20

and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

Deut.17.20

that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.

Deut.17.20

This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. This will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.

Deut.18.1

The Levitical priests--that's the entire tribe of Levi--don't get any land-inheritance with the rest of Israel. They get the Fire-Gift-Offerings of GOD-they will live on that inheritance.

Deut.18.1

The priests, who are Levites-indeed the whole tribe of Levi-are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the offerings made to the LORD by fire, for that is their inheritance.

Deut.18.1

"The priests, the Levites--all the tribe of Levi--shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His portion.

Deut.18.1

"Remember that the Levitical priests and the rest of the tribe of Levi will not be given an inheritance of land like the other tribes in Israel. Instead, the priests and Levites will eat from the offerings given to the LORD by fire, for that is their inheritance.

Deut.18.2

But they don't get land-inheritance like the rest of their kinsmen. GOD is their inheritance.

Deut.18.2

They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Deut.18.2

Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as He said to them.

Deut.18.2

They will have no inheritance of their own among the Israelites. The LORD himself is their inheritance, just as he promised them.

Deut.18.3

This is what the priests get from the people from any offering of an ox or a sheep: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the stomach.

Deut.18.3

This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the jowls and the inner parts.

Deut.18.3

"And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.

Deut.18.3

"These are the parts the priests may claim as their share from the oxen and sheep that the people bring as offerings: the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.

Deut.18.4

You must also give them the firstfruits of your grain, wine, and oil and the first fleece of your sheep,

Deut.18.4

You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,

Deut.18.4

The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.

Deut.18.4

You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.

Deut.18.5

because GOD, your God, has chosen only them and their children out of all your tribes to be present and serve always in the name of GOD, your God.

Deut.18.5

for the LORD your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD's name always.

Deut.18.5

For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons forever.

Deut.18.5

For the LORD your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the LORD's name forever.

Deut.18.6

If a Levite moves from any town in Israel--and he is quite free to move wherever he desires--and comes to the place GOD designates for worship,

Deut.18.6

If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose,

Deut.18.6

"So if a Levite comes from any of your gates, from where he dwells among all Israel, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD chooses,

Deut.18.6

"Any Levite who so desires may come from any town in Israel, from wherever he is living, to the place the LORD chooses.

Deut.18.7

he may serve there in the name of GOD along with all his brother Levites who are present and serving in the Presence of GOD.

Deut.18.7

he may minister in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD.

Deut.18.7

then he may serve in the name of the LORD his God as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD.

Deut.18.7

He may minister there in the name of the LORD his God, just like his fellow Levites who are serving the LORD there.

Deut.18.8

And he will get an equal share to eat, even though he has money from the sale of his parents' possessions. [JC]

Deut.18.8

He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.

Deut.18.8

They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance.

Deut.18.8

He may eat his share of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he has a private source of income.

Deut.18.9

When you enter the land that GOD, your God, is giving you, don't take on the abominable ways of life of the nations there.

Deut.18.9

When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.

Deut.18.9

"When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.

Deut.18.9

"When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.

Deut.18.10

Don't you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire. Don't practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery,

Deut.18.10

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,

Deut.18.10

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

Deut.18.10

For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,

Deut.18.11

casting spells, holding s�ances, or channeling with the dead.

Deut.18.11

or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

Deut.18.11

or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

Deut.18.11

or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.

Deut.18.12

People who do these things are an abomination to GOD. It's because of just such abominable practices that GOD, your God, is driving these nations out before you.

Deut.18.12

Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.

Deut.18.12

For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.

Deut.18.12

Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you.

Deut.18.13

Be completely loyal to GOD, your God.

Deut.18.13

You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Deut.18.13

You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.

Deut.18.13

You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Deut.18.14

These nations that you're about to run out of the country consort with sorcerers and witches. But not you. GOD, your God, forbids it.

Deut.18.14

The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Deut.18.14

For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.

Deut.18.14

The people you are about to displace consult with sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.

Deut.18.15

GOD, your God, is going to raise up a prophet for you. GOD will raise him up from among your kinsmen, a prophet like me. Listen obediently to him.

Deut.18.15

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

Deut.18.15

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

Deut.18.15

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must listen to that prophet.

Deut.18.16

This is what you asked GOD, your God, for at Horeb on the day you were all gathered at the mountain and said, "We can't hear any more from GOD, our God; we can't stand seeing any more fire. We'll die!"

Deut.18.16

For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."

Deut.18.16

according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, "Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.'

Deut.18.16

For this is what you yourselves requested of the LORD your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You begged that you might never again have to listen to the voice of the LORD your God or see this blazing fire for fear you would die.

Deut.18.17

And GOD said to me, "They're right; they've spoken the truth.

Deut.18.17

The LORD said to me: "What they say is good.

Deut.18.17

"And the LORD said to me: "What they have spoken is good.

Deut.18.17

"Then the LORD said to me, `Fine, I will do as they have requested.

Deut.18.18

I'll raise up for them a prophet like you from their kinsmen. I'll tell him what to say and he will pass on to them everything I command him.

Deut.18.18

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.

Deut.18.18

I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

Deut.18.18

I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will tell that prophet what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command him.

Deut.18.19

And anyone who won't listen to my words spoken by him, I will personally hold responsible.

Deut.18.19

If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.

Deut.18.19

And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

Deut.18.19

I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.

Deut.18.20

"But any prophet who fakes it, who claims to speak in my name something I haven't commanded him to say, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die."

Deut.18.20

But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death."

Deut.18.20

But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'

Deut.18.20

But any prophet who claims to give a message from another god or who falsely claims to speak for me must die.'

Deut.18.21

You may be wondering among yourselves, "How can we tell the difference, whether it was GOD who spoke or not?" Here's how:

Deut.18.21

You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?"

Deut.18.21

And if you say in your heart, "How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'--

Deut.18.21

You may wonder, `How will we know whether the prophecy is from the LORD or not?'

Deut.18.22

If what the prophet spoke in GOD's name doesn't happen, then obviously GOD wasn't behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him. [JC]

Deut.18.22

If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Deut.18.22

when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Deut.18.22

If the prophet predicts something in the LORD's name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message. That prophet has spoken on his own and need not be feared.