Deuteronomy 24-27; Psalms 61 - Prayer Tents

24"Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her, he writes her a letter of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house.H376H3947H802H1166H4672H2580H5869H4672H1697H6172H3789H5612H3748H5414H3027H7971H1004 2When she leaves his house, she is free to marry another man.H3318H1004H1980H312H376 3But if the second husband also turns against her and divorces her, or if he dies,H314H376H8130H3789H5612H3748H5414H3027H7971H1004H314H376H4191H3947H802 4the first husband may not marry her again, for she has been defiled. That would be detestable to the LORD. You must not bring guilt upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession.H7223H1167H7971H3201H3947H7725H802H310H2930H8441H6440H3068H776H2398H3068H430H5414H5159 5"A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or be given any other official responsibilities. He must be free to spend one year at home, bringing happiness to the wife he has married.H376H3947H2319H802H3318H6635H5674H1697H5355H1004H259H8141H8055H802H3947 6"It is wrong to take a set of millstones, or even just the upper millstone, as security for a loan, for the owner uses it to make a living.H2254H7347H7393H2254H2254H5315H2254 7"If anyone kidnaps a fellow Israelite and treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.H376H4672H1589H5315H251H1121H3478H6014H4376H1590H4191H1197H7451H1197H7130 8"In all cases involving serious skin diseases, be careful to follow the instructions of the Levitical priests; obey all the commands I have given them.H8104H5061H6883H8104H3966H6213H3548H3881H3384H6680H8104H6213 9Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam as you were coming from Egypt.H2142H3068H430H6213H4813H1870H3318H4714 10"If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security.H5383H7453H3972H4859H935H1004H5670H5667 11You must wait outside while he goes in and brings it out to you.H5975H2351H376H5383H3318H5667H2351 12If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight.H376H6041H7901H5667 13Return the cloak to its owner by sunset so he can stay warm through the night and bless you, and the LORD your God will count you as righteous.H7725H7725H5667H7725H8121H935H7901H8008H1288H6666H6440H3068H430 14"Never take advantage of poor and destitute laborers, whether they are fellow Israelites or foreigners living in your towns.H6231H7916H6041H34H251H1616H776H8179 15You must pay them their wages each day before sunset because they are poor and are counting on it. If you don't, they might cry out to the LORD against you, and it would be counted against you as sin.H3117H5414H7939H8121H935H6041H5375H5315H7121H3068H2399 16"Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.H1H4191H1121H1121H4191H1H376H4191H2399 17"True justice must be given to foreigners living among you and to orphans, and you must never accept a widow's garment as security for her debt.H5186H4941H1616H3490H2254H490H899H2254 18Always remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God redeemed you from your slavery. That is why I have given you this command.H2142H5650H4714H3068H430H6299H6680H6213H1697 19"When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don't go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.H7114H7105H7704H7911H6016H7704H7725H3947H1616H3490H490H3068H430H1288H4639H3027 20When you beat the olives from your olive trees, don't go over the boughs twice. Leave the remaining olives for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.H2251H2132H6286H310H1616H3490H490 21When you gather the grapes in your vineyard, don't glean the vines after they are picked. Leave the remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.H1219H3754H5953H310H1616H3490H490 22Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am giving you this command.H2142H5650H776H4714H6680H6213H1697

25"Suppose two people take a dispute to court, and the judges declare that one is right and the other is wrong.H7379H582H5066H4941H8199H6663H6662H7561H7563 2If the person in the wrong is sentenced to be flogged, the judge must command him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate to the crime.H7563H1121H5221H8199H5307H5221H6440H1767H7564H4557 3But never give more than forty lashes; more than forty lashes would publicly humiliate your neighbor.H705H5221H3254H3254H5221H7227H4347H251H7034H5869 4"You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.H2629H7794H1778 5"If two brothers are living together on the same property and one of them dies without a son, his widow may not be married to anyone from outside the family. Instead, her husband's brother should marry her and have intercourse with her to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law.H251H3427H3162H259H4191H1121H802H4191H2351H376H2114H2993H935H3947H802H2992 6The first son she bears to him will be considered the son of the dead brother, so that his name will not be forgotten in Israel.H1060H3205H6965H8034H251H4191H8034H4229H3478 7"But if the man refuses to marry his brother's widow, she must go to the town gate and say to the elders assembled there, 'My husband's brother refuses to preserve his brother's name in Israel—he refuses to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law by marrying me.'H376H2654H3947H2994H2994H5927H8179H2205H559H2993H3985H6965H251H8034H3478H14H2992 8The elders of the town will then summon him and talk with him. If he still refuses and says, 'I don't want to marry her,'H2205H5892H7121H1696H5975H559H2654H3947 9the widow must walk over to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. Then she must declare, 'This is what happens to a man who refuses to provide his brother with children.'H2994H5066H5869H2205H2502H5275H7272H3417H6440H6030H559H6213H376H1129H251H1004 10Ever afterward in Israel his family will be referred to as 'the family of the man whose sandal was pulled off'!H8034H7121H3478H1004H5275H2502 11"If two Israelite men get into a fight and the wife of one tries to rescue her husband by grabbing the testicles of the other man,H582H5327H3162H251H376H802H259H7126H5337H376H3027H5221H7971H3027H2388H4016 12you must cut off her hand. Show her no pity.H7112H3709H5869H2347 13"You must use accurate scales when you weigh out merchandise,H3599H68H68H1419H6996 14and you must use full and honest measures.H1004H374H374H1419H6996 15Yes, always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.H8003H6664H68H8003H6664H374H3117H748H127H3068H430H5414 16All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the LORD your God.H6213H428H6213H5766H8441H3068H430 17"Never forget what the Amalekites did to you as you came from Egypt.H2142H6002H6213H1870H3318H4714 18They attacked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were straggling behind. They had no fear of God.H7136H1870H2179H2826H310H5889H3023H3373H430 19Therefore, when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies in the land he is giving you as a special possession, you must destroy the Amalekites and erase their memory from under heaven. Never forget this!H3068H430H5117H341H5439H776H3068H430H5414H5159H3423H4229H2143H6002H8064H7911

Harvest Offerings and Tithes

26"When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there,H935H776H3068H430H5414H5159H3423H3427 2put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored.H3947H7225H6529H127H935H776H3068H430H5414H7760H2935H1980H4725H3068H430H977H7931H8034 3Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, 'With this gift I acknowledge to the LORD your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.'H935H3548H3117H559H5046H3117H3068H430H935H776H3068H7650H1H5414 4The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the LORD your God.H3548H3947H2935H3027H3240H6440H4196H3068H430 5"You must then say in the presence of the LORD your God, 'My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.H6030H559H6440H3068H430H761H6H1H3381H4714H1481H4962H4592H1471H1419H6099H7227 6When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves,H4713H7489H6031H5414H7186H5656 7we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression.H6817H3068H430H1H3068H8085H6963H7200H6040H5999H3906 8So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and wonders.H3068H3318H4714H2389H3027H5186H2220H1419H4172H226H4159 9He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey!H935H4725H5414H776H776H2100H2461H1706 10And now, O LORD, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.' Then place the produce before the LORD your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him.H935H6529H7225H127H3068H5414H3240H6440H3068H430H7812H6440H3068H430 11Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.H8055H2896H3068H430H5414H1004H3881H1616H7130 12"Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.H3615H6237H4643H8393H7992H8141H8141H4643H5414H3881H1616H3490H490H398H8179H7646 13Then you must declare in the presence of the LORD your God, 'I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, just as you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands.H559H6440H3068H430H1197H6944H1004H5414H3881H1616H3490H490H4687H6680H5674H4687H7911 14I have not eaten any of it while in mourning; I have not handled it while I was ceremonially unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God and have done everything you commanded me.H398H205H1197H2931H5414H4191H8085H6963H3068H430H6213H6680 15Now look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you swore to our ancestors to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.'H8259H6944H4583H8064H1288H5971H3478H127H5414H7650H1H776H2100H2461H1706

A Call to Obey the Lord’s Commands

16"Today the LORD your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them wholeheartedly.H3117H3068H430H6680H6213H2706H4941H8104H6213H3824H5315 17You have declared today that the LORD is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you.H559H3068H3117H430H3212H1870H8104H2706H4687H4941H8085H6963 18The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.H3068H559H3117H5459H5971H1696H8104H4687 19And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as he promised."H5414H5945H1471H6213H8416H8034H8597H6918H5971H3068H430H1696

The Altar on Mount Ebal

27Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: "Obey all these commands that I am giving you today.H4872H2205H3478H6680H5971H559H8104H4687H6680H3117 2When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.H3117H5674H3383H776H3068H430H5414H6965H1419H68H7874H7875 3Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.H3789H1697H8451H5674H935H776H3068H430H5414H776H2100H2461H1706H3068H430H1H1696 4When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today.H5674H3383H6965H68H6680H3117H2022H5858H7875H7874 5"Then build an altar there to the LORD your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool.H1129H4196H3068H430H4196H68H5130H1270 6Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the LORD your God.H1129H4196H3068H430H8003H68H5927H5930H3068H430 7Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before the LORD your God.H2076H8002H398H8055H6440H3068H430 8You must clearly write all these instructions on the stones coated with plaster."H3789H68H1697H8451H3190H874 9Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: "O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.H4872H3548H3881H1696H3478H559H5535H8085H3478H3117H1961H5971H3068H430 10So you must obey the LORD your God by keeping all these commands and decrees that I am giving you today."H8085H6963H3068H430H6213H4687H2706H6680H3117

Curses from Mount Ebal

11That same day Moses also gave this charge to the people.H4872H6680H5971H3117H559 12"When you cross the Jordan River, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin must stand on Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing over the people.H5975H2022H1630H1288H5971H5674H3383H8095H3878H3063H3485H3130H1144 13And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali must stand on Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.H5975H2022H5858H7045H7205H1410H836H2074H1835H5321 14"Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel.H3881H6030H559H376H3478H7311H6963 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.'H779H376H6213H6459H4541H8441H3068H4639H3027H2796H7760H5643H5971H6030H559H543 16'Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H7034H1H517H5971H559H543 17'Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H5253H7453H1366H5971H559H543 18'Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H5787H7686H1870H5971H559H543 19'Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H5186H4941H1616H3490H490H5971H559H543 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.'H779H7901H1H802H1540H1H3671H5971H559H543 21'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H7901H929H5971H559H543 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.'H779H7901H269H1323H1H1323H517H5971H559H543 23'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H7901H2859H5971H559H543 24'Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H5221H7453H5643H5971H559H543 25'Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H3947H7810H5221H5355H5315H1818H5971H559H543 26'Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'H779H6965H1697H8451H6213H5971H559H543

61[For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.] O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!H5329H5058H1732H8085H7440H430H7181H8605 2From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,H7097H776H7121H3820H5848H5148H6697H7311 3for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.H4268H5797H4026H6440H341 4Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! InterludeH1481H168H5769H2620H5643H3671H5542 5For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.H430H8085H5088H5414H3425H3373H8034 6Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations!H3254H4428H3117H3117H8141H1755H1755 7May he reign under God’s protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.H3427H6440H430H5769H4487H2617H571H5341 8Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day.H2167H8034H5703H3117H3117H7999H5088