Deuteronomy 18:14   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

Deuteronomy 18:16   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."

Deuteronomy 18:17   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

The Lord said to me: "What they say is good.

Deuteronomy 18:19   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.

Deuteronomy 18:20   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death."

Deuteronomy 18:21   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?"

Deuteronomy 18:22   (Read all of Deuteronomy 18)

If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

Deuteronomy 19:1   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

When the Lord your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses,

Deuteronomy 19:2   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Deuteronomy 19:3   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.

Deuteronomy 19:4   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety-anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought.

Deuteronomy 19:5   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life.

Deuteronomy 19:6   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought.

Deuteronomy 19:7   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

This is why I command you to set aside for yourselves three cities.

Deuteronomy 19:9   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today-to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him-then you are to set aside three more cities.

Deuteronomy 19:10   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

Deuteronomy 19:11   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities,

Deuteronomy 19:12   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die.

Deuteronomy 19:13   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

Deuteronomy 19:14   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Deuteronomy 19:16   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime,

Deuteronomy 19:17   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.

Deuteronomy 19:20   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.

Deuteronomy 19:21   (Read all of Deuteronomy 19)

Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.