Deuteronomy 17-20; Psalms 59 - Prayer Tents

17"Never sacrifice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the LORD your God, for he detests such gifts.H2076H3068H430H7794H7716H3971H7451H1697H8441H3068H430 2"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.H4672H7130H259H8179H3068H430H5414H376H802H6213H7451H5869H3068H430H5674H1285 3For 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.H3212H5647H312H430H7812H8121H3394H6635H8064H6680 4When you hear about it, investigate the matter thoroughly. If it is true that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,H5046H8085H1875H3190H571H1697H3559H8441H6213H3478 5then the man or woman who has committed such an evil act must be taken to the gates of the town and stoned to death.H3318H376H802H6213H7451H1697H8179H376H802H5619H68H4191 6But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.H6310H8147H5707H7969H5707H4191H4191H6310H259H5707H4191 7The 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.H3027H5707H7223H4191H314H3027H5971H1197H7451H1197H7130 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 legal cases to the place the LORD your God will choose,H1697H6381H4941H1818H1818H1779H1779H5061H5061H1697H7379H8179H6965H5927H4725H3068H430H977 9and present them to the Levitical priests or the judge on duty at that time. They will hear the case and declare the verdict.H935H3548H3881H8199H3117H1875H5046H1697H4941 10You 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.H6213H6310H1697H4725H3068H977H5046H8104H6213H3384 11After they have interpreted the law and declared their verdict, the sentence they impose must be fully executed; do not modify it in any way.H6310H8451H3384H4941H559H6213H5493H1697H5046H3225H8040 12Anyone 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.H376H6213H2087H8085H3548H5975H8334H3068H430H8199H376H4191H1197H7451H3478 13Then 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.'H935H776H3068H430H5414H3423H3427H559H7760H4428H1471H5439 15If 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.H7760H7760H4428H3068H430H977H7130H251H7760H4428H3201H5414H5237H376H251 16"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.'H7235H5483H5971H7725H4714H7235H5483H3068H559H3254H7725H1870 17The 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.H7235H802H3824H5493H3966H7235H3701H2091 18"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.H3427H3678H4467H3789H4932H8451H5612H6440H3548H3881 19He 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.H7121H3117H2416H3925H3372H3068H430H8104H1697H8451H2706H6213 20This 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

Gifts for the Priests and Levites

18"Remember that the Levitical priests—that is, the whole of the tribe of Levi—will receive no allotment of land among the other tribes in Israel. Instead, the priests and Levites will eat from the special gifts given to the LORD, for that is their share.H3548H3881H7626H3878H2506H5159H3478H398H801H3068H801H5159 2They will have no land of their own among the Israelites. The LORD himself is their special possession, just as he promised them.H5159H7130H251H3068H5159H1696 3"These are the parts the priests may claim as their share from the cattle, sheep, and goats that the people bring as offerings: the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.H3548H4941H5971H2076H2077H7794H7716H5414H3548H2220H3895H6896 4You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.H7225H1715H8492H3323H7225H1488H6629H5414 5For the LORD your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the LORD's name forever.H3068H430H977H7626H5975H8334H8034H3068H1121H3117 6"Suppose a Levite chooses to move from his town in Israel, wherever he is living, to the place the LORD chooses for worship.H3881H935H259H8179H3478H1481H935H185H5315H4725H3068H977 7He may minister there in the name of the LORD his God, just like all his fellow Levites who are serving the LORD there.H8334H8034H3068H430H251H3881H5975H6440H3068 8He may eat his share of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he also receives support from his family.H2506H398H4465H1

A Call to Holy Living

9"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.H935H776H3068H430H5414H3925H6213H8441H1471 10For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,H4672H1121H1323H5674H784H7080H7081H6049H5172H3784 11or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.H2266H2267H7592H178H3049H1875H4191 12Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you.H6213H8441H3068H1558H8441H3068H430H3423H6440 13But you must be blameless before the LORD your God.H8549H3068H430 14The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things."H1471H3423H8085H6049H7080H3068H430H5414

True and False Prophets

15Moses continued, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.H3068H430H6965H5030H7130H251H8085 16For this is what you yourselves requested of the LORD your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, 'Don't let us hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.'H7592H3068H430H2722H3117H6951H559H8085H3254H6963H3068H430H7200H1419H784H4191 17"Then the LORD said to me, 'What they have said is right.H3068H559H3190H1696 18I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.H6965H5030H7130H251H5414H1697H6310H1696H6680 19I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.H376H8085H1697H1696H8034H1875 20But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.'H5030H2102H1696H1697H8034H6680H1696H1696H8034H312H430H5030H4191 21"But you may wonder, 'How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the LORD?'H559H3824H3045H1697H3068H1696 22If the prophet speaks in the LORD's name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the LORD did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.H5030H1696H8034H3068H1697H935H1697H3068H1696H5030H1696H2087H1481

Cities of Refuge

19"When the LORD your God destroys the nations whose land he is giving you, you will take over their land and settle in their towns and homes.H3068H430H3772H1471H776H3068H430H5414H3423H3427H5892H1004 2Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the LORD your God is giving you.H914H7969H5892H8432H776H3068H430H5414H3423 3Survey the territory, and divide the land the LORD your God is giving you into three districts, with one of these cities in each district. Then anyone who has killed someone can flee to one of the cities of refuge for safety.H3559H1870H1366H776H3068H430H5157H8027H7523H5127 4"If someone kills another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, the slayer may flee to any of these cities to live in safety.H1697H7523H5127H2425H5221H7453H1097H1847H8130H8543H8032 5For example, suppose someone goes into the forest with a neighbor to cut wood. And suppose one of them swings an ax to chop down a tree, and the ax head flies off the handle, killing the other person. In such cases, the slayer may flee to one of the cities of refuge to live in safety.H935H3293H7453H2404H6086H3027H5080H1631H3772H6086H1270H5394H6086H4672H7453H4191H5127H259H5892H2425 6"If the distance to the nearest city of refuge is too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill the person who caused the death. Then the slayer would die unfairly, since he had never shown hostility toward the person who died.H1350H1818H7291H310H7523H3588H3824H3179H5381H1870H7235H5221H5315H4941H4194H3588H8130H8543H8032 7That is why I am commanding you to set aside three cities of refuge.H6680H559H914H7969H5892 8"And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them,H3068H430H7337H1366H7650H1H5414H776H1696H5414H1 9you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you—if you always love the LORD your God and walk in his ways.)H8104H4687H6213H6680H3117H157H3068H430H3212H3117H1870H3254H7969H5892H7969 10That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.H5355H1818H8210H7130H776H3068H430H5414H5159H1818 11"But suppose someone is hostile toward a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders him and then flees to one of the cities of refuge.H376H8130H7453H693H6965H5221H5315H4191H5127H259H411H5892 12In that case, the elders of the murderer's hometown must send agents to the city of refuge to bring him back and hand him over to the dead person's avenger to be put to death.H2205H5892H7971H3947H5414H3027H1350H1818H4191 13Do not feel sorry for that murderer! Purge from Israel the guilt of murdering innocent people; then all will go well with you.H5869H2347H1197H5355H1818H3478H2895

Concern for Justice

14"When you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone's land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.H5253H7453H1366H7223H1379H5159H5157H776H3068H430H5414H3423 15"You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.H259H5707H6965H376H5771H2403H2399H2398H6310H8147H5707H6310H7969H5707H1697H6965 16"If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime,H2555H5707H6965H376H6030H5627 17then both the accuser and accused must appear before the LORD by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time.H8147H582H7379H5975H6440H3068H6440H3548H8199H3117 18The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite,H8199H3190H1875H5707H8267H5707H6030H8267H251 19you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you.H6213H2161H6213H251H1197H7451H1197H7130 20Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing.H7604H8085H3372H3254H6213H1697H7451H7130 21You must show no pity for the guilty! Your rule should be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.H5869H2347H5315H5315H5869H5869H8127H8127H3027H3027H7272H7272

Regulations concerning War

20"When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!H3318H4421H341H7200H5483H7393H5971H7227H3372H3068H430H5927H776H4714 2When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops.H7126H4421H3548H5066H1696H5971 3He will say to them, 'Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them.H559H8085H3478H7131H3117H4421H341H3824H7401H3372H2648H6206H6440 4For the LORD your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!'H3068H430H1980H3898H341H3467 5"Then the officers of the army must address the troops and say, 'Has anyone here just built a new house but not yet dedicated it? If so, you may go home! You might be killed in the battle, and someone else would dedicate your house.H7860H1696H5971H559H376H1129H2319H1004H2596H3212H7725H1004H4191H4421H312H376H2596 6Has anyone here just planted a vineyard but not yet eaten any of its fruit? If so, you may go home! You might die in battle, and someone else would eat the first fruit.H376H5193H3754H2490H3212H7725H1004H4191H4421H312H376H2490 7Has anyone here just become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? Well, you may go home and get married! You might die in the battle, and someone else would marry her.'H376H781H802H3947H3212H7725H1004H4191H4421H312H376H3947 8"Then the officers will also say, 'Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.'H7860H1696H3254H5971H559H376H3373H7390H3824H3212H7725H1004H251H3824H4549H3824 9When the officers have finished speaking to their troops, they will appoint the unit commanders.H7860H3615H1696H5971H6485H8269H6635H7218H5971 10"As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.H7126H5892H3898H7121H7965 11If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor.H6030H7965H6605H5971H4672H4522H5647 12But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town.H7999H6213H4421H6696 13When the LORD your God hands the town over to you, use your swords to kill every man in the town.H3068H430H5414H3027H5221H2138H6310H2719 14But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the plunder from your enemies that the LORD your God has given you.H802H2945H929H5892H7998H962H398H7998H341H3068H430H5414 15"But these instructions apply only to distant towns, not to the towns of the nations in the land you will enter.H6213H5892H3966H7350H2007H5892H1471 16In those towns that the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing.H5892H5971H3068H430H5414H5159H2421H5397 17You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the LORD your God has commanded you.H2763H2763H2850H567H3669H6522H2340H2983H3068H430H6680 18This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the LORD your God.H3925H6213H8441H6213H430H2398H3068H430 19"When you are attacking a town and the war drags on, you must not cut down the trees with your axes. You may eat the fruit, but do not cut down the trees. Are the trees your enemies, that you should attack them?H6696H5892H7227H3117H3898H8610H7843H6086H5080H1631H398H3772H6086H7704H120H935H6440H4692 20You may only cut down trees that you know are not valuable for food. Use them to make the equipment you need to attack the enemy town until it falls.H6086H3045H6086H3978H7843H3772H1129H4692H5892H6213H4421H3381

59[For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”] Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.H5329H516H4387H1732H7586H7971H8104H1004H4191H5337H341H430H7682H6965 2Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers.H5337H6466H205H3467H1818H582 3They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord, though I have not sinned or offended them.H693H5315H5794H1481H6588H2403H3068 4I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me. Wake up! See what is happening and help me!H7323H3559H5771H5782H7125H7200 5O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, wake up and punish those hostile nations. Show no mercy to wicked traitors. InterludeH3068H430H6635H430H3478H6974H6485H1471H2603H205H898H5542 6They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets.H7725H6153H1993H3611H5437H5892 7Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths; their words cut like swords. “After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.H5042H6310H2719H8193H8085 8But Lord, you laugh at them. You scoff at all the hostile nations.H3068H7832H1471H3932 9You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress.H5797H8104H430H4869 10In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.H430H2617H6923H430H7200H8324 11Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield.H2026H5971H7911H5128H2428H3381H136H4043 12Because of the sinful things they say, because of the evil that is on their lips, let them be captured by their pride, their curses, and their lies.H2403H6310H1697H8193H3920H1347H423H3585H5608 13Destroy them in your anger! Wipe them out completely! Then the whole world will know that God reigns in Israel. InterludeH3615H2534H3615H3045H430H4910H3290H657H776H5542 14My enemies come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets.H6153H7725H1993H3611H5437H5892 15They scavenge for food but go to sleep unsatisfied.H5128H5128H398H3885H7646 16But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.H7891H5797H7442H2617H1242H4869H4498H3117H6862 17O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.H5797H2167H430H4869H430H2617