The Blessings of Obedience
(Leviticus 26.3-13Deuteronomy 7.12-24)1 “If you obey the Lord your God and faithfully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, he will make you greater than any other nation on earth. 2 Obey the Lord your God and all these blessings will be yours:
3 “The Lord will bless your towns and your fields.
4 “The Lord will bless you with many children, with abundant crops, and with many cattle and sheep.
5 “The Lord will bless your grain crops and the food you prepare from them.
6 “The Lord will bless everything you do.
7 “The Lord will defeat your enemies when they attack you. They will attack from one direction, but they will run from you in all directions.
8 “The Lord your God will bless your work and fill your barns with grain. He will bless you in the land that he is giving you.
9 “If you obey the Lord your God and do everything he commands, he will make you his own people, as he has promised. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that the Lord has chosen you to be his own people, and they will be afraid of you. 11 The Lord will give you many children, many cattle, and abundant crops in the land that he promised your ancestors to give you. 12 He will send rain in season from his rich storehouse in the sky and bless all your work, so that you will lend to many nations, but you will not have to borrow from any. 13 The Lord your God will make you the leader among the nations and not a follower; you will always prosper and never fail if you obey faithfully all his commands that I am giving you today. 14 But you must never disobey them in any way, or worship and serve other gods.
The Consequences of Disobedience
(Leviticus 26.14-46)15 “But if you disobey the Lord your God and do not faithfully keep all his commands and laws that I am giving you today, all these evil things will happen to you:
16 “The Lord will curse your towns and your fields.
17 “The Lord will curse your grain crops and the food you prepare from them.
18 “The Lord will curse you by giving you only a few children, poor crops, and few cattle and sheep.
19 “The Lord will curse everything you do.
20 “If you do evil and reject the Lord, he will bring on you disaster, confusion, and trouble in everything you do, until you are quickly and completely destroyed. 21 He will send disease after disease on you until there is not one of you left in the land that you are about to occupy. 22 The Lord will strike you with infectious diseases, with swelling and fever; he will send drought and scorching winds to destroy your crops. These disasters will be with you until you die. 23 No rain will fall, and your ground will become as hard as iron. 24 Instead of rain, the Lord will send down duststorms and sandstorms until you are destroyed.
25 “The Lord will give your enemies victory over you. You will attack them from one direction, but you will run from them in all directions, and all the people on earth will be terrified when they see what happens to you. 26 When you die, birds and wild animals will come and eat your bodies, and there will be no one to scare them off. 27 The Lord will send boils on you, as he did on the Egyptians. He will make your bodies break out with sores. You will be covered with scabs, and you will itch, but there will be no cure. 28 The Lord will make you lose your mind; he will strike you with blindness and confusion. 29 You will grope about in broad daylight like someone blind, and you will not be able to find your way. You will not prosper in anything you do. You will be constantly oppressed and robbed, and there will be no one to help you.
30 “You will be engaged to a young woman—but someone else will marry her. You will build a house—but never live in it. You will plant a vineyard—but never eat its grapes. 31 Your cattle will be butchered before your very eyes, but you will not eat any of the meat. Your donkeys will be dragged away while you look on, and they will not be given back to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and there will be no one to help you. 32 Your sons and daughters will be given as slaves to foreigners while you look on. Every day you will strain your eyes, looking in vain for your children to return. 33 A foreign nation will take all the crops that you have worked so hard to grow, while you receive nothing but constant oppression and harsh treatment. 34 Your sufferings will make you lose your mind. 35 The Lord will cover your legs with incurable, painful sores; boils will cover you from head to foot.
36 “The Lord will take you and your king away to a foreign land, where neither you nor your ancestors ever lived before; there you will serve gods made of wood and stone. 37 In the countries to which the Lord will scatter you, the people will be shocked at what has happened to you; they will make fun of you and ridicule you.
38 “You will plant plenty of seed, but reap only a small harvest, because the locusts will eat your crops. 39 You will plant vineyards and take care of them, but you will not gather their grapes or drink wine from them, because worms will eat the vines. 40 Olive trees will grow everywhere in your land, but you will not have any olive oil, because the olives will drop off. 41 You will have sons and daughters, but you will lose them, because they will be taken away as prisoners of war. 42 All your trees and crops will be devoured by insects.
43 “Foreigners who live in your land will gain more and more power, while you gradually lose yours. 44 They will have money to lend you, but you will have none to lend them. In the end they will be your rulers.
45 “All these disasters will come on you, and they will be with you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and keep all the laws that he gave you. 46 They will be the evidence of God's judgment on you and your descendants forever. 47 The Lord blessed you in every way, but you would not serve him with glad and joyful hearts. 48 So then, you will serve the enemies that the Lord is going to send against you. You will be hungry, thirsty, and naked—in need of everything. The Lord will oppress you harshly until you are destroyed. 49 The Lord will bring against you a nation from the ends of the earth, a nation whose language you do not know. They will swoop down on you like an eagle. 50 They will be ruthless and show no mercy to anyone, young or old. 51 They will eat your livestock and your crops, and you will starve to death. They will not leave you any grain, wine, olive oil, cattle, or sheep; and you will die. 52 They will attack every town in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and the high, fortified walls in which you trust will fall.
53 “When your enemies are besieging your towns, you will become so desperate for food that you will even eat the children that the Lord your God has given you. 54-55 Even the most refined man of noble birth will become so desperate during the siege that he will eat some of his own children because he has no other food. He will not even give any to his brother or to the wife he loves or to any of his children who are left. 56-57 Even the most refined woman of noble birth, so rich that she has never had to walk anywhere, will behave in the same way. When the enemy besieges her town, she will become so desperate for food that she will secretly eat her newborn child and the afterbirth as well. She will not share them with the husband she loves or with any of her children.
58 “If you do not obey faithfully all of God's teachings that are written in this book and if you do not honor the wonderful and awesome name of the Lord your God, 59 he will send on you and on your descendants incurable diseases and horrible epidemics that can never be stopped. 60 He will bring on you once again all the dreadful diseases you experienced in Egypt, and you will never recover. 61 He will also send all kinds of diseases and epidemics that are not mentioned in this book of God's laws and teachings, and you will be destroyed. 62 Although you become as numerous as the stars in the sky, only a few of you will survive, because you did not obey the Lord your God. 63 Just as the Lord took delight in making you prosper and in making you increase in number, so he will take delight in destroying you and in bringing ruin on you. You will be uprooted from the land that you are about to occupy.
64 “The Lord will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will serve gods made of wood and stone, gods that neither you nor your ancestors have ever worshiped before. 65 You will find no peace anywhere, no place to call your own; the Lord will overwhelm you with anxiety, hopelessness, and despair. 66 Your life will always be in danger. Day and night you will be filled with terror, and you will live in constant fear of death. 67 Your hearts will pound with fear at everything you see. Every morning you will wish for evening; every evening you will wish for morning. 68 The Lord will send you back to Egypt in ships, even though he said that you would never have to go there again. There you will try to sell yourselves to your enemies as slaves, but no one will want to buy you.”
Svētības vārdi
(3Moz 26:1–135Moz 7:12–24)1 Ja tu klausīt klausīsi Kungu, savu Dievu, ja turēsi un pildīsi visus viņa baušļus, ko es tev šodien pavēlu, tad Kungs, tavs Dievs, tevi darīs augstāku par visām tautām. 2 Tad pār tevi nāks visas šīs svētības, tās tev piepildīsies, ja tu klausīsi Kungu, savu Dievu:
3 svētīts tu būsi pilsētā, un svētīts tu būsi uz lauka.
4 Svētīts tavas miesas auglis, tavas zemes auglis un tavu lopu auglis – tavu liellopu vaislība un tavu sīklopu auglība.
5 Svētīts tavs grozs un tava maizes abra.
6 Svētīts tu ienākdams, un svētīts tu iziedams!
7 Tavus ienaidniekus, kas celsies pret tevi, Kungs satrieks tavā priekšā, – pa vienu ceļu tie nāks pret tevi, pa septiņiem ceļiem tie bēgs no tevis!
8 Kungs dos svētību tavām klētīm un visam, ko tu darīsi, svētīs tevi tajā zemē, ko Kungs, tavs Dievs, tev dod. 9 Kungs tevi darīs par svētu tautu, kā viņš tev zvērējis, ja tu turēsi Kunga, sava Dieva, baušļus un staigāsi viņa ceļos. 10 Visas zemes tautas redzēs, ka tu tiec saukts Kunga vārdā, un bīsies tevis!
11 Kungs dāsni vairos tavas miesas augļus, tavu lopu augļus un tavas zemes augļus zemē, ko Kungs taviem tēviem zvērējis tev dot! 12 Kungs tev atvērs savu dārgumu krātuvi – debesis, laikā dos tavai zemei lietu un svētīs visu, ko tu dari, lai tu varētu aizdot daudzām tautām, bet tev nebūtu jāaizņemas! 13 Kungs darīs tevi par galvu, ne asti, tu iesi tikai augšup, ne lejup, ja klausīsi Kunga, sava Dieva, baušļiem, kā es tev šodien pavēlu, lai tu tos turi un pildi. 14 Nenovērsies ne pa labi, ne pa kreisi ne no viena vārda, ko es tev šodien pavēlu, neseko citiem dieviem, lai tiem kalpotu!
Lāsti par nepaklausību
(2Moz 9:8–123Moz 26:14–46)15 Ja tu neklausīsi Kungu, savu Dievu, ja neturēsi un nepildīsi viņa baušļus un likumus, kā es tev šodien pavēlu, tad pār tevi nāks visi šie lāsti un tie tev piepildīsies: 16 nolādēts tu būsi pilsētā, un nolādēts tu būsi uz lauka. 17 Nolādēts tavs grozs un tava maizes abra. 18 Nolādēts tavas miesas auglis un tavas zemes auglis – tavu liellopu vaislība un tavu sīklopu auglība. 19 Nolādēts tu ienākdams, un nolādēts tu iziedams. 20 Kungs sūtīs lāstu, nemieru un neveiksmi visam, ko tu darīsi, – līdz tu tiksi iznīcināts un jo drīz iesi bojā savu ļauno darbu dēļ, ka atmeti mani! 21 Kungs tev uzlaidīs mēri un piebeigs tevi tajā zemē, kuru tu ej iemantot. 22 Kungs sitīs tevi ar diloni, drudzi un karsoni, svelmi un sausumu, un labības rūsu un dzelti, un tie tevi vajās, līdz tu aiziesi bojā! 23 Debesis tev virs galvas būs no vara un zeme zem tavām kājām no dzelzs! 24 Lietus vietā Kungs tavai zemei dos putekļus un pīšļus, tie nāks no debesīm pār tevi, līdz tu būsi iznīcināts. 25 Kungs liks taviem ienaidniekiem tevi sakaut – pa vienu ceļu tu iesi pret tiem, pa septiņiem ceļiem tu bēgsi! Tu kļūsi par šaušalām visām zemes ķēniņvalstīm! 26 Tavi līķi būs barība visiem debesu putniem un visiem zemes zvēriem – neviens tos nebaidīs prom!
27 Kungs jūs sitīs ar Ēģiptes trumiem, augoņiem, kraupi un kašķi, ko nevar ārstēt! 28 Kungs jūs sitīs ar trakumu, aklumu un stulbumu! 29 Dienas vidū tu taustīsies kā aklais tumsā, nekas tev neveiksies, vienmēr tu būsi apspiests un aplaupīts, tev nebūs glābēja! 30 Sievu tu saderēsi, bet cits vīrs to piegulēs! Namu tu uzbūvēsi, bet pats tajā nedzīvosi! Vīnadārzu iestādīsi, bet neko nenovāksi! 31 Tavu vērsi nokaus tavu acu priekšā, bet tu to neēdīsi! Tavu ēzeli nolaupīs, tev redzot, un atpakaļ tu to nedabūsi! Tavu avi atdos taviem ienaidniekiem, glābēja tev nebūs! 32 Tavus dēlus un meitas atdos citām tautām, un tavas acis bez mitas raudzīsies un ilgosies pēc tiem, bet tu neko nejaudāsi. 33 Tavas zemes augļus un visus tavus pūliņus ēdīs tauta, ko tu nepazīsti, un tu mūžam paliksi apspiests un satriekts. 34 Tu paliksi traks no tā, ko redzēs tavas acis, no tā, ko tu ieraudzīsi! 35 Tavus stilbus un ceļus Kungs sitīs ar ļauniem un nedziedējamiem augoņiem – no kāju pēdām līdz pakausim! 36 Tevi un tavu ķēniņu, ko tu sev būsi iecēlis, Kungs vedīs pie tautas, ko nepazīsti ne tu, ne tavi tēvi, un tur tu vergosi citiem dieviem – kokam un akmenim! 37 Lai kurp tevi Kungs vestu, pie visām tautām tu kļūsi par šausmām, par biedēkli un apsmieklu!
38 Daudz sēklas tu kaisīsi uz lauka, bet maz savāksi – visu aprīs siseņi! 39 Vīnadārzu tu stādīsi un kopsi, bet vīnu tu ne dzersi, ne ievāksi – to apēdīs tārpi! 40 Tev it visur būs olīvkoki, bet eļļu tu nespiedīsi – nobirs tavas olīvas! 41 Dēlus un meitas tu dzemdēsi, bet ne sev – tie aizies gūstā! 42 Visus tavus kokus un zemes augļus dabūs siseņi! 43 Svešinieks, kas mīt pie tevis, taps par tevi lielāks un lielāks, bet tu grimsi zemāk un zemāk! 44 Viņš aizdos tev, bet tu viņam neaizdosi – viņš būs galva, bet tu aste!
45 Visi šie lāsti nāks pār tevi un vajās tevi, tie piemeklēs tevi, līdz tu tiksi iznīcināts, jo neklausīji Kungu, savu Dievu, neturēji viņa baušļus un likumus, ko viņš tev bija pavēlējis. 46 Tie lai ir par zīmi un brīnumu tev un taviem pēcnācējiem uz mūžiem! 47 Tādēļ ka tu nekalpoji Kungam, savam Dievam, ar prieku un no labas sirds, kad tev visa bija daudz, 48 tu kalposi saviem ienaidniekiem, ko Kungs tev uzsūtīs, badā, slāpēs, plikumā un trūkumā, viņš mauks tev kaklā dzelzs jūgu, līdz tu tiksi iznīcināts!
49 Kungs liks, lai pret tevi ceļas tauta no tālienes, no zemes pamales, tie laidīsies kā ērglis – tauta, kuras valodu tu nepratīsi, 50 nežēlīga tauta, kas negodā vecu un nežēlo jaunu. 51 Tie ēdīs tavu lopu jaundzimušos un tavas zemes ražu, kamēr tu būsi pagalam, tie neatstās tev ne maizi, ne jaunvīnu, ne eļļu, ne liellopu vaislību, ne sīklopu auglību, līdz tu aiziesi bojā! 52 Tie lenks tevi visās pilsētās, līdz gāzīsies tavi augstie un nocietinātie mūri, uz ko tu paļāvies, visā tavā zemē! Tie ielenks tevi visās pilsētās visā tavā zemē, ko tev devis Kungs, tavs Dievs. 53 Tad tu ēdīsi savas miesas augļus, savu dēlu un meitu miesu, ko tev devis Kungs, tavs Dievs, aplenkumā un žņaugos, ar ko tevi žņaugs tavi ienaidnieki. 54 Pat vismaigākais un jūtīgākais vīrs ļauni glūnēs uz savu brāli, uz paša sievu un tiem dēliem, kas vēl atlikuši, – 55 nedos nevienam savu dēlu gaļu, to ēdīs pats, jo nekas tam vairs nebūs atlicis aplenkumā un žņaugos, ar ko tavi ienaidnieki tevi žņaugs visās pilsētās. 56 Pat vismaigākā un jūtīgākā sieva, kas ne kāju pie zemes nelika sava maiguma un jūtīguma dēļ, ļauni glūnēs uz pašas vīru, uz saviem dēliem un meitām, 57 uz pašas pēcnācējiem, kas tai starp kājām nākuši, uz pašas dēliem, ko dzemdējusi, – tos viņa slepeni ēdīs, kad nebūs nekā, aplenkumā un žņaugos, ar ko tavi ienaidnieki žņaugs tevi visās pilsētās.
58 Ja tu neturēsi un nepildīsi visus šīs bauslības vārdus, kas rakstīti šajā grāmatā, ja nebīsies Kunga, sava Dieva, šī godājamā un bijājamā vārda, 59 tad Kungs darīs apbrīnojami lielas tavas un tavu pēcnācēju brūces, lielas un dziļas brūces, ļaunas un ilgas slimības! 60 Viņš atkal uzsūtīs tev visas Ēģiptes sērgas, no kā tu baidies, un tās tev pielips! 61 Kungs liks, lai pār tevi nāk arī visas slimības un brūces, kas nav aprakstītas šīs bauslības grāmatā, līdz tu tiksi iznīcināts! 62 Un tevis būs palicis krietni maz, kur tu biji kā zvaigznes debesīs, jo tu neklausīji Kungu, savu Dievu! 63 Un, kā Kungs par jums līksmoja, darīdams labu un vairodams jūs, tāpat Kungs līksmos par jums, deldēdams un jūs iznīcinādams, – tu tiksi izrauts no zemes, kuru tu gāji iemantot! 64 Kungs izkaisīs tevi starp visām tautām no vienas zemes malas līdz otrai, un tur tu kalposi citiem dieviem, ko nepazini ne tu, ne tavi tēvi, – kokam un akmenim. 65 Starp šīm tautām tev nebūs nedz mirkļa atpūtai, nedz miera tavu kāju pēdām, tur Kungs tev dos bailīgu sirdi, acu postu un nonīkušu dvēseli. 66 Tava dzīvība karāsies mata galā, tu baiļosies dienu un nakti, un dzīvē tev nebūs drošuma. 67 No rīta tu teiksi: kaut būtu vakars! – un vakarā tu teiksi: kaut būtu rīts! – savu sirds baiļu dēļ, ko tu baiļosies, un dēļ tā, ko redzēs tavas acis. 68 Kungs liks tev ar kuģiem atgriezties Ēģiptē pa ceļu, par ko es tev solīju, ka tev to vairs neredzēt, tur jūs gribēsiet pārdoties saviem ienaidniekiem par vergiem un verdzenēm, bet neviens jūs nepirks!”
69 Šie ir tās derības vārdi, kuru Kungs pavēlēja Mozum, derēdams ar Israēla dēliem Moāba zemē, papildus tai derībai, ko viņš ar tiem bija noslēdzis Horebā.
