Deuteronomy

Moses gives speeches about laws and the importance of following God before the Israelites enter the Promised Land.

Chapter 23

1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

*If someone is hurt in their private parts or has their private part removed, they cannot join the group of people who follow the LORD.

2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

*A child born out of wedlock cannot join the Lord's group; for ten generations, this person is not allowed in the Lord's group.

3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

*An Ammonite or Moabite cannot join God's people. Their descendants, up to the 10th generation, are also not allowed. This rule is forever.

4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

*Because they didn't give you food or drink when you left Egypt, and they hired Balaam to curse you.

5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

*However, the Lord didn't listen to Balaam. Instead, the Lord changed the curse into a blessing for you because He loved you.

6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.

*Do not wish for their peace or wealth throughout your entire life.

7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

*Do not dislike an Edomite, as they are your brother. And do not dislike an Egyptian, because you were once a foreigner in their country.

8 The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.

*In the third generation, the grandchildren will join the LORD's group.

9 When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.

*When your leader goes to fight against your enemies, make sure you stay away from all bad things.

10 If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:

*If anyone in your group becomes unclean because of an accidental impurity at night, they must leave the camp and not return until it's over.

11 But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

*But when night falls, he will wash with water. And when the sun sets, he will return to the camp.

12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:

*You shall have a special area outside the camp where you will go when needed.

13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

*And you will have a paddle on your weapon; and it will happen, when you want to go out, you will use it to dig and then turn back to cover what comes out of you.

14 For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

*For the Lord your God is with you in your camp to protect and defeat your enemies. Keep your camp clean so He can be with you without seeing anything wrong, and He won't leave you.

15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:

*Do not return the runaway servant to his master if he comes to you for help.

16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.

*He will live with you in the place he chooses at one of your gates, where he feels most comfortable; do not treat him unfairly.

17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

*No prostitution or homosexuality is allowed for the people of Israel.

18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

*Do not bring the pay of a prostitute or the cost of a dog to God's house for any promise. They are both detested by God.

19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

*Do not charge interest to your brother; no interest on loans of money, food, or anything else – do not lend with interest.

20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

*You can lend money to someone you don't know with extra pay, but don't lend to your family like that. This is so God will bless everything you do in the land where you live.

21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

*When you make a promise to God, don't hesitate to keep it. God will definitely expect you to fulfill your promise, and not keeping it would be wrong.

22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

*But if you don't promise, it won't be wrong of you.

23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

*Whatever you say, you should keep and do, like a voluntary gift. It should be based on your promise to the Lord, which you said with your mouth.

24 When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.

*When you go to your neighbor's grape garden, you can eat as many grapes as you want. But don't take any home with you in a container.

25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

*When you enter your neighbor's cornfield, you can pick the ears by hand, but don't use a sickle on their standing corn.

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