Deuteronomy 19

Set Up Cities of Refuge

1 When God wipes out the nations in the land He is giving you, and you all take over and start living there,

2 Set aside three cities in the land the Lord is giving you.

3 Build good roads to them, split the land into three zones, and make sure folks can run there quick if needed.

4 These cities are for people who accidentally kill someone, but did not mean to. They can run there and be safe.

5 Like if a dude is out in the woods chopping trees, and the axe head flies off and kills somebody, He is not a killer, that was an accident, he can run to one of those cities and live.

6 Otherwise, a family member might get heated and chase him down outta revenge, catch him because the trip too long, and kill him, even though it was not murder.

7 That is why I am telling you: Set aside these three cities.

When God Expands Your Territory

8 If you all obey God, and He gives you more land like He promised your ancestors,

9 Because you kept His commands and walked in His ways, Then add three more cities to the three you already got.

10 That way, innocent blood will not be spilled in the land the Lord is giving you. You do not want blood guilt on your hands.

Real Murderers Do Not Get Refuge

11 But if someone hates somebody, lies in wait, and kills them on purpose, then runs to a refuge city,

12 The leaders of their hometown must go get them from the refuge city, bring them back, And the family of the victim can take them out.

13 Show no pity. That person took a life on purpose, they must go. This keeps the land clean from bloodshed.

Respect Property Lines

14 Do not move the boundary markers your ancestors set. That is stealing land God gave your neighbors. Do not be shady.

Rules for Witnesses

15 You cannot convict someone off just one witness. You need two or three witnesses to make a charge stick.

16 If someone lies in court and falsely accuses another person,

17 Both of them must stand before the Lord and the priests and judges who are in charge.

18 The judges must investigate the situation carefully. If the accuser is found to be lying.

19 Then whatever they were trying to do to the other person, Do that to them. That is justice. This will stop fake accusations from spreading.

20 The rest of the people will hear what went down and think twice before pulling that same mess.

21 Do not hold back. It is life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Justice must be real.