Deuteronomy 23 - Contemporary English Version (Anglicised) 2012（CEVUK）

Who cannot become one of the LORD

's peopleMoses said to Israel:

1If a man's private parts have been crushed or cut off, he cannot fully belong to the LORD's people.

2No one born outside a legal marriage, or any of their descendants for ten generations, can fully belong to the LORD's people.

3No Ammonites or Moabites, or any of their descendants for ten generations, can become part of Israel, the LORD's people. to put a curse on you. must go outside the camp and stay there

11until late afternoon. Then he must take a bath, and at sunset he can go back into camp.

12Set up a place outside the camp to be used as a toilet area.

13And make sure that you have a small shovel in your equipment. When you go out to the toilet area, use the shovel to dig a hole. Then, after you relieve yourself, bury the waste in the hole.

14You must keep your camp clean of filthy and disgusting things. The LORD is always present in your camp, ready to rescue you and give you victory over your enemies. But if he sees something disgusting in your camp, he may turn around and leave.

Runaway slaves from other countriesMoses said:

15When runaway slaves from other countries come to Israel and ask for protection, you must not hand them back to their owners.

16Instead, you must let them choose which one of your towns they want to live in. Don't be cruel to runaway slaves.

Temple prostitutesMoses said:

17People of Israel, don't any of you ever be temple prostitutes.Lv 19.29.

18The LORD your God is disgusted with men and women who are prostitutes of any kind, and he will not accept a gift from them, even if it had been promised to him.

Interest on loansMoses said:

19When you lend money, food, or anything else to another Israelite, you are not allowed to charge interest.Ex 22.25; Lv 25.36,37; Dt 15.7-11.

20You can charge a foreigner interest. But if you charge other Israelites interest, the LORD your God will not let you be successful in the land you are about to take.

Sacred promises to the LORD

Moses said:

21People of Israel, if you make a sacred promise to give a gift to the LORD, then do it as soon as you can. If the LORD has to come looking for the gift you promised, you will be guilty of breaking that promise.Nu 30.1-16; Mt 5.33.

22On the other hand, if you never make a sacred promise, you can't be guilty of breaking it.

23You must keep whatever promises you make to the LORD. After all, you are the one who chose to make the promises.

Eating someone else's produce

24If you go into a vineyard that belongs to someone else, you are allowed to eat as many grapes as you want while you are there. But don't take any with you when you leave.

25In the same way, if you are in a grain field that belongs to someone else, you can pick heads of grain and eat the kernels. But don't cut down the stalks of grain and take them with you.