Deuteronomy 17

17"Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the LORD your God, for he detests such gifts.H2076H3068H430H7794H7716H3971H7451H1697H8441H3068H4302"When you begin living in the towns the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman among you might do evil in the sight of the LORD your God and violate the covenant.H4672H7130H259H8179H3068H430H5414H376H802H6213H7451H5869H3068H430H5674H12853For instance, they might serve other gods or worship the sun, the moon, or any of the stars—the forces of heaven—which I have strictly forbidden.H3212H5647H312H430H7812H8121H3394H6635H8064H66804When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,H5046H8085H1875H3190H571H1697H3559H8441H6213H34785then the man or woman who has committed such an evil act must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death.H3318H376H802H6213H7451H1697H8179H376H802H5619H68H41916But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.H6310H8147H5707H7969H5707H4191H4191H6310H259H5707H41917The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.H3027H5707H7223H4191H314H3027H5971H1197H7451H1197H71308"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 legal cases to the place the LORD your God will choose,H1697H6381H4941H1818H1818H1779H1779H5061H5061H1697H7379H8179H6965H5927H4725H3068H430H9779and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict.H935H3548H3881H8199H3117H1875H5046H1697H494110You must carry out the verdict they announce and the sentence they prescribe at the place the LORD chooses. You must do exactly what they say.H6213H6310H1697H4725H3068H977H5046H8104H6213H338411After they have interpreted the law and declared their verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way.H6310H8451H3384H4941H559H6213H5493H1697H5046H3225H804012Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel.H376H6213H2087H8085H3548H5975H8334H3068H430H8199H376H4191H1197H7451H347813Then everyone else will hear about it and be afraid to act so arrogantly.H5971H8085H3372H2102

Guidelines for a King

14"You are about to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, 'We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.'H935H776H3068H430H5414H3423H3427H559H7760H4428H1471H543915If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the LORD your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.H7760H7760H4428H3068H430H977H7130H251H7760H4428H3201H5414H5237H376H25116"The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the LORD has told you, 'You must never return to Egypt.'H7235H5483H5971H7725H4714H7235H5483H3068H559H3254H7725H187017The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.H7235H802H3824H5493H3966H7235H3701H209118"When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.H3427H3678H4467H3789H4932H8451H5612H6440H3548H388119He must always keep that copy 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 these instructions and decrees.H7121H3117H2416H3925H3372H3068H430H8104H1697H8451H2706H621320This 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. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.H3824H7311H251H5493H4687H3225H8040H748H3117H4467H1121H7130H3478