Deuteronomy, Chapter 19:
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Verses from Deuteronomy, Chapter 19 of the Book of Deuteronomy of the Bible.
cities of refuge
- 1. “When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he gives you, and when you drive them out and occupy their cities and houses,
- 2. Choose three cities of refuge in the center of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
- 3. Divide the land into three parts and build roads so that anyone who kills someone can flee there.
- 4. Here is the situation in which someone who kills another person may take refuge: if he kills his neighbor unintentionally and without enmity between them.
- 5. For example, if a man is chopping wood with his friend in the forest and the ax slips from his hands, accidentally hitting his friend and causing his death, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.
- 6. Otherwise the wrathful avenger of blood might pursue and kill him, even though he did not deserve to die, for there was no enmity between them.
- 7. Therefore, I order you to separate three cities.
- 8. “If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised,
- 9. then separate three more cities. This will happen if you faithfully obey all the law I command you today: love the Lord your God and always walk in his ways.
- 10. Do this so that there is no shedding of innocent blood in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and so that you do not become guilty of shedding blood.
- 11. “But if anyone hates his neighbor, waits for him, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,
- 12. The authorities of the city of refuge must send him back to the avenger of blood to be executed.
- 13. Have no pity. Drive away the guilt of shedding innocent blood from Israel, so that it may go well with you.
- 14. “Do not change the landmarks of your neighbor's property, which your ancestors set up in the land you will inherit, in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
the witnesses
- 15. Witnesses: “A single witness is not sufficient to convict someone of a crime or offence. Every accusation must be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- 16. “If a false witness accuses a man of a crime,
- 17. Both the accusing party and the accused must appear before the Lord, before the priests and judges who are serving at that time.
- 18. The judges will investigate the case and, if it is proven that the witness lied and gave false testimony against his neighbor,
- 19. give him the same punishment he planned for his brother. Eliminate evil from among you.
- 20. The rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will ever do such a thing again among you.
- 21. Have no pity. Demand life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
