Devarim 19
Devarim (Book of Deuteronomy), Chapter 19
'"`UNIQ--named-00000000-QINU`"'1 When HaShem thy G-d shall cut off the nations, whose land HaShem thy G-d giveth thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000001-QINU`"'2 thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy GOD giveth thee to possess it.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000002-QINU`"'3 Thou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000003-QINU`"'4 And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000004-QINU`"'5 as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000005-QINU`"'6 lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000006-QINU`"'7 Wherefore I command thee, saying: 'Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000007-QINU`"'8 And if HaShem thy G-d enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers--
'"`UNIQ--named-00000008-QINU`"'9 if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love HaShem thy G-d, and to walk ever in His ways--then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000009-QINU`"'10 that innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000A-QINU`"'11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die; and he flee into one of these cities;
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000B-QINU`"'12 then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000C-QINU`"'13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000D-QINU`"'14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that HaShem thy G-d giveth thee to possess it.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000E-QINU`"'15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth; at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be establishment
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000F-QINU`"'16 If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against him;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000010-QINU`"'17 then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before HaShem, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000011-QINU`"'18 And the judges shall inquire diligently; and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000012-QINU`"'19 then shall ye do unto him, as he had purposed to do unto his brother; so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000013-QINU`"'20 And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000014-QINU`"'21 And thine eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
See also
References
Portions © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant. Portions © 1998 by Larry Nelson.
