¹⁵ See, I set before you today life^(A) and prosperity,^(B) death^(C) and destruction.^{(D) 16} For I command you today to love^(E) the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live^(F) and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.^(G) You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you^(H) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.^(I) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love^(J) the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,^(K) and he will give^(L) you many years in the land^(M) he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Murder^(A)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a](B) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry^(C) with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment.^(D) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court.^(E) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.^(F)

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,^(A) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’^{(B) 34} But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:^(C) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;^{(D) 35} or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.^{(E) 36} And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;^(F) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[a](G)