Deuteronomy 26:16-28:14

The Blessing of Biblical Curses - Part 1

Did you ever think about why your soul is so valuable to God? The instructions given for every aspect of life should leave no doubt about that. As such, there are commandments to be obeyed and methods for not forgetting. There are also curses and consequences for disobedience as for any child. Consider how the blessings and curses work together so that God's people are truly holy and set apart.

  1. This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
  2. Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:
  3. And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
  4. And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.
  1. And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
  2. And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:
  3. And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
  4. Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.
  5. And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.
  6. Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
  7. And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.
  8. And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
  9. And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
  10. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
  11. And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,
  12. These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
  13. And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
  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 neighbor'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 neighbor 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.
  1. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
  2. And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
  3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
  4. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
  5. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
  6. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
  7. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
  8. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
  9. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
  10. And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
  11. And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
  12. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  13. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
  14. And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.