[an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1“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. |
2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the LORD your God is giving you. |
3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4“If someone kills another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, the slayer may flee to any of these cities to live in safety. |
5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7That is why I am commanding you to set aside three cities of refuge. |
8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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, |
9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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.) |
10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Do not feel sorry for that murderer! Purge from Israel the guilt of murdering innocent people; then all will go well with you. Concern for Justice |
14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16“If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, |
17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17then both the accuser and accused must appear before the LORD by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time. |
18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, |
19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing. |
21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
[an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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