Deuteronomy 23

Who Cannot Be in God’s Assembly

1 If a man’s private parts been crushed or cut off, he cannot roll with the Lord’s people.

2 If someone was born from a hookup that was not right, they cannot join God’s assembly either, not even their descendants for ten generations.

3 No Ammonite or Moabite can join the Lord’s crew, not now, not ever.

4 Why, Because when you all came outta Egypt, they did not bring you all any food or water. Instead, they tried to curse you by hiring Balaam to speak against you.

5 But God flipped it, He turned that curse into a blessing because He loves you all.

6 So do not ever make peace or sign deals with them, keep your distance for life.

Look Out for Your Brothers

7 Do not hate Edomites, they your cousins. And do not hate Egyptians, you lived there once.

8 Their great-grandkids can roll with you all after three generations.

Stay Clean in God’s Camp

9 When you all out on the battlefield, keep yourself clean and right, do not let any mess creep in.

10 If one of you all had a wet dream or some kind of impurity, he must step outside the camp till evening.

11 Then when the sun go down, he can wash up and come back.

12 Set up a spot outside the camp to handle your business when nature calls.

13 Keep a shovel with your gear. When you handle your business, dig a hole and cover it up.

14 Because God is walking through your camp, keep it holy so He does not see something nasty and bounce on you all.

God Protects the Oppressed

15 If a slave runs away from his master and shows up at your place, do not send him back.

16 Let him live where he wants in your city. Do not treat him foul.

No Selling Your Body for Money

17 There should be no female or male prostitutes among God’s people, You all are not supposed to sell yourselves like that.

18 And do not bring any money from that lifestyle into God’s house. He does not want that kind of bread, not for anything.

Do Not Be Greedy with Loans

19 Do not charge interest when you loan money, food, or anything to your brother. No taxing your own people.

20 You can charge outsiders, but never your own folks, Then God will bless you in everything you do.

Keep Your Promises to God

21 If you make a vow to God, do not play around, pay it quick. God expects you to keep your word.

22 But if you never made the vow, you cool, you not in sin.

23 But if you said it, follow through. Do what came out your mouth, keep your word.

Do Not Be Greedy on Somebody Else’s Property

24 If you roll through somebody’s vineyard, You can eat some grapes on the spot, but do not take any with you in a bag.

25 Same with grain, you can pluck some with your hands, But do not go grabbing a sickle or trying to harvest what is not yours.