'THESE ARE THE STATUTES AND JUDGEMENTS, WHICH YOU SHALL OBSERVE TO DO IN THE LAND, WHICH THE L~RD G~D OF THY FATHERS GIVES THEE TO POSSESS IT, ALL THE DAYS THAT YOU LIVE UPON THE EARTH . . . YOU SHALL NOT DO AFTER ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE THIS DAY, EVERY MAN WHATEVER IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES. FOR YOU ARE NOT AS YET COME TO THE REST, AND TO THE INHERITANCE, WHICH THE L~RD THY G~D GIVES YOU. BUT WHEN YOU TRAVERSE THE YARDEN, AND DWELL IN THE LAND THAT THE L~RD YOUR G~D GIVES YOU TO INHERIT, AND WHEN HE GIVES YOU REST FROM ALL YOUR ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT, SO THAT YOU DWELL IN SAFETY; THEN THERE SHALL BE A PLACE WHICH THE L~RD YOUR G~D SHALL CHOOSE TO CAUSE HIS NAME TO DWELL THERE . . . ' DEVARIM 12.
'IF THERE ARISE A MATTER TOO HARD FOR THEE IN JUDGEMENT, BETWEEN BLOOD AND BLOOD, BETWEEN PLEA AND PLEA, AND BETWEEN PLAGUE AND PLAGUE, MATTERS OF CONTROVERSY WITHIN THY GATES: THEN SHALT THOU ARISE, AND GO UP TO THE PLACE THAT THE L~RD THY G~D SHALL CHOOSE; AND THOU SHALT COME TO THE PRIESTS THE LEVITES, AND TO THE JUDGE THAT SHALL BE IN THOSE DAYS, AND INQUIRE; AND THEY SHALL TELL THEE THE SENTENCE OF JUDGEMENT: AND THOU SHALT DO ACCORDING TO THE SENTENCE, WHICH THEY OF THAT PLACE WHICH THE L~RD SHALL CHOOSE SHALL TELL THEE; AND THOU SHALT OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THEY INFORM THEE: ACCORDING TO THE SENTENCE OF THE TORAH WHICH THEY SHALL TEACH THEE, AND ACCORDING TO THE JUDGEMENT WHICH THEY SHALL TELL THEE, THOU SHALT DO: THOU SHALT NOT DEVIATE FROM THE SENTENCE WHICH THEY SHALL TELL THEE, TO THE RIGHT HAND, OR TO THE LEFT.' DEVARIM17.
WHEN THE L~RD THY G~D HAS CUT OFF THE NATIONS, WHOSE LAND THE L~RD THY G~D GIVES THEE, AND THOU HAS DRIVEN THEM OUT, AND DOST DWELL IN THEIR CITIES, AND IN THEIR HOMES; THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES FOR THEE IN THE MIDST OF THY LAND, WHICH THE L~RD THY G~D GIVES THEE TO POSSESS IT. THOU SHALT PREPARE THE WAY, AND DIVIDE THE BORDER OF THY LAND, WHICH THE L~RD THY G~D GIVES THEE TO INHERIT, INTO THREE PARTS, THAT EVERY SLAYER MAY FLEE THITHER. AND THIS IS THE CASE OF THE SLAYER, WHO SHALL FLEE THERE, THAT HE MAY LIVE: WHOEVER UNWITTINGLY KILLS HIS NEIGHBOUR, WHOM HE HATED NOT IN TIME PAST; AS WHEN A MAN GOES INTO THE FOREST WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR TO HEW WOOD, AND HIS HAND FETCHES A STROKE WITH THE AXE TO CUT DOWN THE TREE, AND THE HEAD SLIPS FROM THE HANDLE, AND STRIKES HIS NEIGHBOUR, THAT HE DIE; HE SHALL FLEE TO ONE OF THOSE CITIES, AND LIVE; LEST THE AVENGER OF BLOOD PURSUE THE SLAYER, WHILE HIS HEART IS HOT, AND OVERTAKE HIM, BECAUSE THE WAY IS LONG, AND SLAY HIM; THOUGH HE IS NOT WORTHY OF DEATH, SINCE HE HATED HIM NOT IN TIME PAST. THEREFORE I COMMAND THEE, SAYING, THOU SHALT SEPARATE THREE CITIES FOR THEE. AND IF THE L~RD THY G~D ENLARGE THY BORDER, AS HE HAS SWORN TO THY FATHERS, AND GIVE THEE ALL THE LAND WHICH HE PROMISED TO GIVE TO THY FATHERS; IF THOU SHALT KEEP ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS TO DO THEM, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, TO LOVE THE L~RD THY G~D, AND TO WALK EVER IN HIS WAYS: THEN SHALT THOU ADD THREE CITIES MORE FOR THEE, BESIDE THESE THREE: THAT INNOCENT BLOOD BE NOT SHED IN THY LAND, WHICH THE L~RD THY G~D GIVES THEE FOR AN INHERITANCE, AND [IF NOT] SO BLOOD BE UPON THEE.' DEVARIM 19.
'THOU SHALT NOT DELIVER TO HIS MASTER THE SERVANT WHO HAS ESCAPED FROM HIS MASTER TO THEE: HE SHALL DWELL WITH THEE, AMONG YOU, IN THAT PLACE WHICH HE SHALL CHOOSE IN ONE OF THY GATES, WHERE IT LIKES HIM BEST: THOU SHALL NOT OPPRESS HIM. THERE SHALL BE NO FEMALE PROSTITUTE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF YISRAEL, NOR A MALE PROSTITUTE OF THE SONS OF YISRAEL. THOU SHALL NOT BRING THE HIRE OF THE PROSTITUTE, OR THE PRICE OF A DOG, INTO THE HOUSE OF THE L~RD THY G~D FOR ANY VOW: FOR BOTH THESE ARE AN ABOMINATION TO THE L~RD THY G~D. THOU SHALT NOT GIVE INTEREST TO THY BROTHER; INTEREST OF MONEY, INTEREST OF FOODSTUFF, INTEREST OF ANYTHING THAT IS LENT UPON INTEREST; TO A STRANGER THOU MAYST GIVE INTEREST; BUT TO THY BROTHER THOU SHALT NOT GIVE INTEREST: THAT THE L~RD THY G~D MAY BLESS THEE IN ALL THAT THOU SETTEST THY HAND TO IN THE LAND INTO WHICH THOU GOEST TO POSSESS IT.' DEVARIM 23.
'WHEN A MAN HAS TAKEN A WIFE, AND MARRIED HER, AND IT COME TO PASS THAT SHE FIND NO FAVOUR IN HIS EYES, BECAUSE HE HAS FOUND SOME UNSEEMLINESS IN HER: THEN LET HIM WRITE HER A BILL OF DIVORCE, AND GIVE IT IN HER HAND, AND SEND HER OUT OF HIS HOUSE. AND WHEN SHE IS DEPARTED OUT OF HIS HOUSE, SHE MAY GO AND BE ANOTHER MANS WIFE. AND IF THE LATER HUSBAND HATE HER, AND WRITE HER A BILL OF DIVORCE, AND GIVE IT IN HER HAND, AND SEND HER OUT OF HIS HOUSE; OR IF THE LATTER HUSBAND, WHO TOOK HER TO BE HIS WIFE, SHOULD DIE, THEN HER FORMER HUSBAND, WHO SENT HER AWAY, MAY NOT TAKE HER AGAIN TO BE HIS WIFE, AFTER SHE IS DEFILED; FOR THAT IS AN ABOMINATION BEFORE THE L~RD: AND THOU SHALT NOT CAUSE THE LAND TO BE SINFUL, WHICH THE L~RD THY G~D GIVES THEE FOR AN INHERITANCE. WHEN A MAN HAS TAKEN A NEW WIFE, HE SHALL NOT GO OUT TO WAR, NEITHER SHALL HE BE CHARGED WITH ANY BUSINESS: BUT HE SHALL BE FREE AT HOME ONE YEAR, AND SHALL CHEER HIS WIFE WHOM HE HAS TAKEN. NO MAN SHALL TAKE THE NETHER OR UPPER MILLSTONE FOR A PLEDGE: FOR HE TAKES A MAN'S LIFE FOR A PLEDGE . . . THOU SHALT NOT PERVERT THE JUDGEMENT OF THE STRANGER, OR OF THE FATHERLESS; NOR TAKE A WIDOW'S GARMENT AS A PLEDGE: BUT THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU WAST A BONDSMAN IN MITZRAYIM, AND THE L~RD THY G~D REDEEMED THEE FROM THERE: THEREFORE I COMMAND THEE TO DO THIS THING.' DEVARIM 24.
'AND MOSHE WITH THE ELDERS OF YISRAEL COMMANDED THE PEOPLE, SAYING, KEEP ALL THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY . . . AND THOU SHALT WRITE UPON THE STONES ALL THE WORDS OF THIS TORAH VERY PLAINLY. AND MOSHE AND THE PRIESTS THE LEVITES SPOKE TO ALL YISRAEL SAYING, TAKE HEED, AND HEARKEN, O YISRAEL; THIS DAY THOU ART BECOME THE PEOPLE OF THE L~RD THY G~D. THOU SHALT THEREFORE OBEY THE VOICE OF THE L~RD THY G~D, AND DO HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY.' DEVARIM 27.
'AND ALL THESE BLESSINGS SHALL COME ON THEE, AND OVERTAKE THEE, IF THOU SHALT HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF THE L~RD THY G~D. BLESSED SHALT THOU BE IN THE CITY, AND BLESSED SHALT THOU BE IN THE FIELD . . . THE L~RD SHALL OPEN TO THEE HIS GOOD TREASURE, THE HEAVEN, TO GIVE THE RAIN TO THY LAND IN ITS SEASON, AND TO BLESS ALL THE WORK OF THY HAND: AND THOU SHALT LEND TO MANY NATIONS, AND THOU SHALT NOT BORROW. AND THE L~RD SHALL MAKE THEE THE HEAD, AND NOT THE TAIL; AND THOU SHALL BE ABOVE ONLY, AND THOU SHALT NOT BE BENEATH; IF THOU HEARKEN TO THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE L~RD THY G~D, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, TO OBSERVE AND TO DO THEM: AND THOU SHALT NOT GO ASIDE FROM ANY OF THE WORDS WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, TO THE RIGHT HAND, OR TO THE LEFT, TO GO AFTER OTHER GODS TO SERVE THEM.' DEVARIM 28.
'YOU STAND THIS DAY ALL OF YOU BEFORE THE L~RD YOUR G~D; YOUR CAPTAINS OF YOUR TRIBES, YOUR ELDERS, AND YOUR OFFICERS, WITH ALL THE MEN OF YISRAEL, YOUR LITTLE ONES, YOUR WIVES, AND THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY CAMP, FROM THE HEWER OF THY WOOD, TO THE DRAWER OF THY WATER: THAT THOU SHOULDST ENTER INTO THE COVENANT OF THE L~RD THY G~D, AND INTO HIS OATH, WHICH THE L~RD THY G~D MAKES WITH THEE THIS DAY: THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THEE TODAY FOR A PEOPLE TO HIMSELF, AND THAT HE MAY BE TO THEE G~D, AS HE HAS SAID TO THEE, AND AS HE HAS SWORN TO THY FATHERS, TO AVRAHAM, TO YITZHAK, AND TO YAAQOV. NEITHER WITH YOU ONLY DO I MAKE THIS COVENANT AND THIS OATH; BUT WITH HIM THAT STANDS HERE WITH US THIS DAY BEFORE THE L~RD OUR G~D, AND ALSO WITH HIM THAT IS NOT HERE WITH US THIS DAY:' DEVARIM 29.
'FOR THIS COMMANDMENT WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, IT IS NOT HIDDEN FROM THEE, NEITHER IS IT FAR OFF . . . SEE, I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD, AND DEATH AND EVIL . . . I CALL HEAVEN AND EARTH TO WITNESS THIS DAY AGAINST YOU, THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH THOU AND THY SEED MAY LIVE: THAT THOU MAYST LOVE THE L~RD THY G~D, AND THAT THOU MAYST OBEY HIS VOICE, AND THAT THOU MAYST CLEAVE TO HIM: FOR HE IS THY LIFE, AND THE LENGTH OF THY DAYS: THAT THOU MAYST DWELL IN THE LAND WHICH THE L~RD SWORE TO THY FATHERS, TO AVRAHAM, TO YITZHAK, AND TO YAAQOV, TO GIVE THEM.' DEVARIM 30.
'AND MOSHE COMMANDED THEM, SAYING, AT THE END OF EVERY SEVEN YEARS, IN THE TIME OF THE YEAR OF RELEASE, IN THE FEAST OF BOOTHS, WHEN ALL YISRAEL HAS COME TO APPEAR BEFORE THE L~RD THY G~D IN THE PLACE WHICH HE SHALL CHOOSE, THOU SHALT READ THIS TORAH BEFORE ALL YISRAEL IN THEIR HEARING. GATHER THE PEOPLE TOGETHER, MEN, AND WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AND THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES, THAT THEY MAY HEAR, AND THAT THEY MAY LEARN, AND FEAR THE L~RD YOUR G~D, AND OBSERVE TO DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS TORAH: AND THAT THEIR CHILDREN, WHO HAVE NOT KNOWN ANYTHING, MAY HEAR, AND LEARN TO FEAR THE L~RD YOUR G~D, AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN THE LAND WHITHER YOU GO OVER THE YARDEN TO POSSESS IT . . . NOW THEREFORE WRITE THIS POEM FOR YOURSELVES, AND TEACH IT THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL: PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTHS, THAT THIS POEM MAY BE A WITNESS FOR ME AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL . . . MOSHE THEREFORE WROTE THIS POEM THE SAME DAY, AND TAUGHT IT THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL . . . AND MOSHE SPOKE IN THE EARS OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF YISRAEL, THE WORDS OF THIS POEM, UNTIL THEY WERE ENDED.' DEVARIM 31.
'AND MOSHE MADE AN END OF SPEAKING ALL THESE WORDS TO ALL YISRAEL: AND HE SAID TO THEM, SET YOUR HEART TO ALL THE WORDS WHICH I TESTIFY AMONG YOU THIS DAY, WHICH YOU SHALL COMMAND YOUR CHILDREN TO OBSERVE TO DO, ALL THE WORDS OF THIS TORAH. FOR IT IS NOT A VAIN THING FOR YOU; BECAUSE IT IS YOUR LIFE: AND THROUGH THIS WORD YOU SHALL PROLONG YOUR DAYS IN THE LAND, INTO WHICH YOU GO OVER THE YARDEN TO POSSES IT.' DEVARIM 32.
'HAPPY ART THOU, O YISRAEL: WHO IS LIKE TO THEE, O PEOPLE SAVED BY THE L~RD, THE SHIELD OF THY HELP, AND ONE THAT IS THE SWORD OF THY EXCELLENCY! AND THY ENEMIES SHALL SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THEE; AND THOU SHALL TREAD UPON THEIR HIGH PLACES.' DEVARIM 33.
THE LAST WORDS OF MOSHE OUR TEACHER 'BEFORE THE EYES OF ALL YISRAEL'. ENDING TO DWELL ON A NEW BEGINNING.
