1. The elders of Israel and I gave commands to the people. We said, "Obey all of the commands we're giving you today.
2. "You will go across the Jordan River. You will enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you do, set up some large stones. Put a coat of plaster on them.
3. Write all of the words of this law on them. Do it when you have crossed over into the land the Lord your God is giving you. It's a land that has plenty of milk and honey. The Lord is the God of your fathers. He promised you that you would enter the land.
4. After you have gone across the Jordan, set up those stones on Mount Ebal. Put a coat of plaster on them. We're commanding you today to do that.
5. "Build an altar there to honor the Lord your God. Make it out of stones. Don't use any iron tool on them.
6. Use stones you find in the fields to build his altar. Then offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God.
7. Sacrifice friendship offerings there. Eat them and be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God.
8. "You must write all of the words of this law on the stones you have set up. Write the words very clearly."
9. Then the priests, who are Levites, and I spoke to all of the people of Israel. We said, "Israel, be quiet! Listen! You have now become the people of the Lord your God.
10. Obey him. Follow his commands and rules that we're giving you today."
11. Here are the commands I gave the people that very day.
12. You will go across the Jordan River. When you do, I want six tribes to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people. Those tribes are Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin.
13. I want the other six tribes to stand on Mount Ebal to announce some curses. Those tribes are Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali.