14 The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: 15 "Cursed is anyone who makes an idol-a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands-and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 16 "Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 17 "Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 18 "Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 19 "Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 20 "Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father's wife, for he dishonors his father's bed." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 21 "Cursed is anyone who has sexual relations with any animal." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 22 "Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 23 "Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 24 "Cursed is anyone who kills their neighbor secretly." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 25 "Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" 26 "Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. 21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. 24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. 25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice: 15 "'Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.' 16 "'Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 17 "'Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 18 "'Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 19 "'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 20 "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.'
14 The Levites, acting as spokesmen and speaking loudly, will address Israel: 15 God's curse on anyone who carves or casts a god-image - an abomination to God made by a craftsman - and sets it up in secret. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 16 God's curse on anyone who demeans a parent. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 17 God's curse on anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary marker. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 18 God's curse on anyone who misdirects a blind man on the road. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 19 God's curse on anyone who interferes with justice due the foreigner, orphan, or widow. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 20 God's curse on anyone who has sex with his father's wife; he has violated the woman who belongs to his father. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 21 God's curse on anyone who has sex with an animal. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 22 God's curse on anyone who has sex with his sister, the daughter of his father or mother. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 23 God's curse on anyone who has sex with his mother-in-law. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 24 God's curse on anyone who kills his neighbor in secret. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 25 God's curse on anyone who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person. All respond: Yes. Absolutely. 26 God's curse on whoever does not give substance to the words of this Revelation by living them. All respond: Yes. Absolutely.
14 "And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel: 15 'Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.'And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen!' 16 'Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 17 'Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 18 'Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 19 'Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 20 'Cursed is the one who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's bed.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 21 'Cursed is the one who lies with any kind of animal.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 22 'Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 23 'Cursed is the one who lies with his mother-in-law.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 24 'Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 25 'Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!' 26 'Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.'And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
14 "Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel: 15 'Cursed is anyone who carves or casts an idol and secretly sets it up. These idols, the work of craftsmen, are detestable to the Lord .' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 16 'Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 17 'Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 18 'Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 19 'Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 20 'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father's wives, for he has violated his father.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 21 'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 22 'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 23 'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 24 'Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 25 'Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' 26 'Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:14-26
Commentary on Deuteronomy 27:11-26
(Read Deuteronomy 27:11-26)
The six tribes appointed for blessing, were all children of the free women, for to such the promise belongs, Galatians 4:31. Levi is here among the rest. Ministers should apply to themselves the blessing and curse they preach to others, and by faith set their own Amen to it. And they must not only allure people to their duty with the promises of a blessing, but awe them with the threatenings of a curse, by declaring that a curse would be upon those who do such things. To each of the curses the people were to say, Amen. It professed their faith, that these, and the like curses, were real declarations of the wrath of God against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, not one jot of which shall fall to the ground. It was acknowledging the equity of these curses. Those who do such things deserve to fall, and lie under the curse. Lest those who were guilty of other sins, not here mentioned, should think themselves safe from the curse, the last reaches all. Not only those who do the evil which the law forbids, but those also who omit the good which the law requires. Without the atoning blood of Christ, sinners can neither have communion with a holy God, nor do any thing acceptable to him; his righteous law condemns every one who, at any time, or in any thing, transgresses it. Under its awful curse we remain as transgressors, until the redemption of Christ is applied to our hearts. Wherever the grace of God brings salvation, it teaches the believer to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, consenting to, and delighting in the words of God's law, after the inward man. In this holy walk, true peace and solid joy are to be found.