Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 27

11Moses commanded the people on that day, saying,   יאוַיְצַ֤ו משֶׁה֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר:
12“When you cross the Jordan River, the following tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim, and the priests and Levites will face them in order to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.   יבאֵ֠לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֞וּ לְבָרֵ֤ךְ אֶת־הָעָם֙ עַל־הַ֣ר גְּרִזִּ֔ים בְּעָבְרְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן שִׁמְעוֹן֙ וְלֵוִ֣י וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר וְיוֹסֵ֥ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן:
לְבָרֵךְ אֶת־הָעָם - To bless the people. As stated in Tractate Sotah: 1 Six tribes ascended to the top of Mount Gerizim and six to the top of Mount Eival, with the priests, the Levites, and the Ark in the valley between them below. The Levites turned to face Mount Gerizim and began the blessing: “Blessed be the man who does not make a sculpted or molten image….” Both groups then answered “Amen.” They then turned to face Mount Eival and began the curse, saying: “Cursed be the man who makes any sculpted image….” 2 Both groups then answered “Amen.” And similarly, they pronounced all the blessings and curses, up to and including: “Cursed be he who does not uphold….” 3   לְבָרֵךְ אֶת־הָעָם.  כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת סוֹטָה (דף ל"ב): שִׁשָּׁה שְׁבָטִים עָלוּ לְרֹאשׁ הַר גְּרִיזִים וְשִׁשָּׁה לְרֹאשׁ הַר עֵיבָל וְהַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם וְהָאָרוֹן לְמַטָּה בָּאֶמְצַע, הָפְכוּ לְוִיִּים פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי הַר גְּרִיזִים וּפָתְחוּ בַבְּרָכָה, "בָּרוּךְ הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה וְגוֹ'", וְאֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ עוֹנִין אָמֵן. חָזְרוּ וְהָפְכוּ פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי הַר עֵיבָל וּפָתְחוּ בַקְּלָלָה וְאוֹמְרִים "אָרוּר הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה פֶסֶל וְגוֹ'", וְכֵן כֻּלָּם עַד "אָרוּר אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָקִים":
13The following tribes will stand on Mount Eival so the priests and Levites can turn and face them for the purpose of pronouncing the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.   יגוְאֵ֛לֶּה יַֽעַמְד֥וּ עַל־הַקְּלָלָ֖ה בְּהַ֣ר עֵיבָ֑ל רְאוּבֵן֙ גָּ֣ד וְאָשֵׁ֔ר וּזְבוּלֻ֖ן דָּ֥ן וְנַפְתָּלִֽי:
14The Levites will speak up, saying to every individual of Israel in a loud voice:   ידוְעָנ֣וּ הַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם וְאָֽמְר֛וּ אֶל־כָּל־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ק֥וֹל רָֽם:
15‘Cursed be the man who makes any sculpted or molten image, which is an abomination to God—being the handiwork of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret!’ All the people will respond, saying, ‘Amen!’   טואָר֣וּר הָאִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַֽעֲשֶׂה֩ פֶ֨סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֜ה תּֽוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה מַֽעֲשֵׂ֛ה יְדֵ֥י חָרָ֖שׁ וְשָׂ֣ם בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְעָנ֧וּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וְאָֽמְר֖וּ אָמֵֽן:
16‘Cursed be he who disrespects his father and mother!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   טזאָר֕וּר מַקְלֶ֥ה אָבִ֖יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
מַקְלֶה אָבִיו - means: He who disrespects his father, related to: “and your brother be belittled (וְנִקְלָה).” 4   מַקְלֶה אָבִיו.  מְזַלְזֵל, לְשׁוֹן "וְנִקְלָה אָחִיךָ" (דברים כ"ה):
17‘Cursed be he who pushes back his neighbor’s landmark!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   יזאָר֕וּר מַסִּ֖יג גְּב֣וּל רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
מַסִּיג גְּבוּל - means: he who moves the landmark backward and steals the land, related to: וְהֻסַּג אָחוֹר “has been turned backward.” 5   מַסִּיג גְּבוּל.  מַחֲזִירוֹ לַאֲחוֹרָיו וְגוֹנֵב אֶת הַקַּרְקַע, לְשׁוֹן "וְהֻסַּג אָחוֹר" (ישעיהו נ"ט):
18‘Cursed be he who figuratively misguides a “blind person” on the way!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   יחאָר֕וּר מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה עִוֵּ֖ר בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
מַשְׁגֶּה עִוֵּר - He who misguides a blind person - i.e., one who is unaware of a particular matter, by giving him bad advice.   מַשְׁגֶּה עִוֵּר.  הַסּוּמָא בַדָּבָר וּמַשִּׂיאוֹ עֵצָה רָעָה:
19‘Cursed be he who perverts the judgment of the convert, the orphan, or the widow!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   יטאָר֗וּר מַטֶּ֛ה מִשְׁפַּ֥ט גֵּֽר־יָת֖וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
20‘Cursed be he who fornicates with his father’s wife, thus figuratively uncovering the corner of his father’s garment!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כאָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֵ֣שֶׁת אָבִ֔יו כִּ֥י גִלָּ֖ה כְּנַ֣ף אָבִ֑יו וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
21‘Cursed be he who engages in carnal relations with any animal!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כאאָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־כָּל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
22‘Cursed be he who fornicates with his sister, whether she be the daughter of his father or of his mother!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כבאָר֗וּר שֹׁכֵב֙ עִם־אֲחֹת֔וֹ בַּת־אָבִ֖יו א֣וֹ בַת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
23‘Cursed be he who fornicates with his mother-in-law!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כגאָר֕וּר שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־חֹֽתַנְתּ֑וֹ וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
24‘Cursed be he who “strikes his fellow” in secret!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כדאָר֕וּר מַכֵּ֥ה רֵעֵ֖הוּ בַּסָּ֑תֶר וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
מַכֵּה רֵעֵהוּ בַּסָּתֶר - He who strikes his fellow in secret. This refers to slander. I saw the following in the work of Rabbi Moshe HaDarshan: There are 11 curses listed here, corresponding to 11 tribes, but no curse is written corresponding to the tribe of Simeon. Since Moses planned not to bless this tribe explicitly when he blessed the other tribes before he died, he did not want to curse them either.   מַכֵּה רֵעֵהוּ בַּסָּתֶר.  עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע הוּא אוֹמֵר; רָאִיתִי בִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן — י"א אֲרוּרִים יֵשׁ כָּאן כְּנֶגֶד י"א שְׁבָטִים, וּכְנֶגֶד שִׁמְעוֹן לֹא כָתַב אָרוּר, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בְלִבּוֹ לְבָרְכוֹ לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ כְּשֶׁבֵּרֵךְ שְׁאָר הַשְּׁבָטִים, לְכָךְ לֹא רָצָה לְקַלְּלוֹ:
25‘Cursed be he who takes a bribe to put an innocent person to death!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כהאָרוּר֙ לֹקֵ֣חַ שֹׁ֔חַד לְהַכּ֥וֹת נֶ֖פֶשׁ דַּ֣ם נָקִ֑י וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
26‘Cursed be he who does not uphold all the words of this Torah by fulfilling them!’ All the people will say, ‘Amen!’   כואָר֗וּר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָקִ֛ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֑ם וְאָמַ֥ר כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵֽן:
אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־יָקִים - He who does not uphold. This statement refers to the entire Torah, which they thereby accepted upon themselves subject to this curse and oath.   אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־יָקִים.  כָּאן כָּלַל אֶת כָּל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ וְקִבְּלוּהָ עֲלֵיהֶם בְּאָלָה וּבִשְׁבוּעָה:

Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 28

1If you obey God, your God, being sure to safeguard and to perform all His commandments that I am commanding you to perform today, God, your God, will place you supreme above all the nations of the earth.   אוְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע֙ בְּקוֹל֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַֽעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־מִצְו‍ֹתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָֽנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם וּנְתָ֨נְךָ֜ יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עֶלְי֔וֹן עַ֖ל כָּל־גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ:
2All the following blessings will pursue you and overtake you if you obey God, your God:   בוּבָ֧אוּ עָלֶ֛יךָ כָּל־הַבְּרָכ֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגֻ֑ךָ כִּ֣י תִשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ:
3You will be blessed both in the city and in the field.   גבָּר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בָּעִ֑יר וּבָר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶֽה:
4Blessed will be your children, the fruit of your womb; your crops, the fruit of your soil; the fruit of your domestic animals: the offspring of your cattle and the choice of your flocks.   דבָּר֧וּךְ פְּרִֽי־בִטְנְךָ֛ וּפְרִ֥י אַדְמָֽתְךָ֖ וּפְרִ֣י בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ שְׁגַ֥ר אֲלָפֶ֖יךָ וְעַשְׁתְּר֥וֹת צֹאנֶֽךָ:
שְׁגַר אֲלָפֶיךָ - means: The offspring of your cattle, which the animal expels (מְשַׁגֶּרֶת) from its womb.   שְׁגַר אֲלָפֶיךָ.  וַלְדוֹת בְּקָרְךָ, שֶׁהַבְּהֵמָה מְשַׁגֶּרֶת מִמֵּעֶיהָ:
וְעַשְׁתְּרוֹת צֹאנֶֽךָ - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: וְעֶדְרֵי עָנָךְ “the flocks of your sheep.” Our rabbis 6 said: Why are they called עַשְׁתָּרוֹת? Because they enrich (מַעֲשִׁירוֹת) their owners, making them strong, like עַשְׁתָּרוֹת, i.e., strong rocks.   וְעַשְׁתְּרוֹת צֹאנֶֽךָ.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָם עַשְׁתָּרוֹת? שֶׁמַּעֲשִׁירוֹת אֶת בַּעֲלֵיהֶן וּמַחֲזִיקוֹת אוֹתָם כְּעַשְׁתָּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהֵן סְלָעִים חֲזָקִים:
5Blessed will be your food basket and your kneading bowl.   הבָּר֥וּךְ טַנְאֲךָ֖ וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ:
בָּרוּךְ טַנְאֲךָ - Your basket - i.e., your fruit. Another explanation: טַנְאֲךָ refers to liquids that you strain through wickerwork baskets.   בָּרוּךְ טַנְאֲךָ.  פֵּרוֹתֶיךָ; דָּבָר אַחֵר — טַנְאֲךָ דָּבָר לַח שֶׁאַתָּה מְסַנֵּן בְּסַלִּים:
וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ - Your kneading bowl - i.e., your dry produce, which remains (נִשְׁאָר) inside the container and does not flow.   וּמִשְׁאַרְתֶּֽךָ.  דָּבָר יָבֵשׁ שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר בַּכְּלִי וְאֵינוֹ זָב:
6Just as you are blessed when you enter the world, being free of sin, so will you be similarly blessed when you depart the world.   ובָּר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בְּבֹאֶ֑ךָ וּבָר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּבֹאֶךָ וּבָרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ - (lit.) Blessed are you when you enter and blessed are you when you depart - i.e., that your departure from the world be free of sin just like your entry into the world.   בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּבֹאֶךָ וּבָרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ.  שֶׁתְּהֵי יְצִיאָתְךָ מִן הָעוֹלָם בְּלֹא חֵטְא כְּבִיאָתְךָ לָעוֹלָם (ב"מ ק"ז):