Chapter 24 of 34
Deuteronomy 24
Every verse twice: in the King James Version, and in the World Bible Guide plain reading — what it says, in words anyone can follow.
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Deuteronomy 24, verse by verse
Each verse is given twice: first in the King James Version, then in the World Bible Guide plain reading.
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
When a man marries a woman but later realizes he no longer loves her due to some faults he's discovered, he should respectfully give her a written divorce and allow her to leave his home.
And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
Once she leaves his home, she is free to marry another man.
And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
If the second husband despises her and gives her divorce papers, sending her away from his home; or if he, who made her his wife, passes away.
Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
The man who divorced her cannot remarry her once she's been with another; it's deeply offensive to God. Don't bring sin upon the land God has given you as a gift.
When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
When a man marries, he shouldn't be sent to war or burdened with work. Instead, he should spend a year at home, bringing joy to his new wife.
No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.
Never seize someone's means of livelihood as collateral; it's like holding their very life hostage.
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
If someone is caught kidnapping a fellow Israelite and treating or selling them as a slave, that person must be put to death. This act will cleanse your community of evil.
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
Be alert and careful about the threat of leprosy. Listen closely and follow all the instructions given by the Levite priests, just as I have commanded them. This is your duty to observe and carry out.
Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.
Don't forget how the LORD your God dealt with Miriam after you all left Egypt.
When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
When you lend something to your friend, don't invade their privacy by going into their home to take what they give you as security.
Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
You must stay outside, and the person you lend to will bring your collateral outside to you.
And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
If the man is in poverty, do not keep his pledge with you overnight; show compassion instead.
In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.
Be sure to give him back his pledge before sunset, so he can sleep in his own cloak and bless you. This act of kindness will be seen as righteousness in God's eyes.
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
Never exploit a struggling worker, whether they're a fellow citizen or a foreigner in your land.
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
Pay the worker his due on the same day, before sunset, because he relies on it. If not, his pleas may reach God, and you'll be held accountable.
The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
Parents must not be put to death for their children's sins, nor children for their parents'. Each person is to be put to death only for their own sin.
Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge:
Do not deny justice to outsiders or orphans, and never take a widow's cloak as security for a loan.
But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
Remember, you were once a slave in Egypt, but God, your Lord, set you free. So, I urge you to follow His command.
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
When you're harvesting and accidentally leave a bundle behind, don't go back for it. Leave it for those in need - the stranger, the orphan, the widow. This way, God will bless all your hard work.
When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When you harvest your olives, don't pick the tree clean. Leave some behind for the traveler, the orphan, and the widow.
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When you harvest your vineyard's grapes, don't go back for leftovers. Leave them for the traveler, the orphan, and the widow.
And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
Remember, you were once a slave in Egypt. So, I urge you to follow this command.
Go on with Deuteronomy 24
Hear it read aloud in the iPhone and iPad app, or bring a question about it to Simon Peter, Paul, Philip, John the Baptist, Judas Iscariot or Jesus. When an answer rests on a passage, you see which one. Each person is an interpretation drawn from the text, never the person.
The chapters of Deuteronomy