Numbers 35

And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,

In the open fields of Moab, near the Jordan river by Jericho, the Lord passionately communicated with Moses, saying,

Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.

Instruct the people of Israel to share their lands and cities with the Levites, providing them not only a place to live but also the pasturelands around the cities.

And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.

They will live in the cities, and the outskirts will be home to their livestock, belongings, and all their animals.

And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.

Gift the Levites the city outskirts, extending a thousand cubits from the city walls, all around.

And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.

From the city's edge, measure two thousand cubits to the east, south, west, and north. The city will sit at the heart of this boundary, forming the pasturelands of the city.

And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

You will provide the Levites with cities, six of which will serve as safe havens for those who have accidentally killed someone. In addition to these, you will give them forty-two more cities.

So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.

You'll provide the Levites with 48 cities, including their surrounding areas.

And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

The cities you'll provide will belong to the people of Israel. Those with plenty will give more, while those with less will give less. Each person will share their cities with the Levites, based on what they themselves have inherited.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

The Lord passionately communicated with Moses, expressing,

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

Tell the people of Israel, when you cross the Jordan and enter the land of Canaan, feel the joy and anticipation.

Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

Designate safe cities where those who accidentally take a life can seek sanctuary.

And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

These cities will be your safe havens from those seeking revenge; they'll protect someone who's killed another, until they can face a fair trial before the community.

And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.

You shall designate six of these cities you're giving as safe havens.

Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

You should establish three safe havens on this side of the Jordan, and another three within Canaan's borders. These will serve as sanctuaries.

These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

These six cities will serve as safe havens for everyone - the Israelites, foreigners, and travelers alike. They are places of sanctuary for those who have unintentionally caused a death, offering them a place to escape.

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

If he kills another with a weapon of iron, he is indeed a killer. Such a person must face the ultimate punishment - death.

And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

If he kills another by hurling a stone, he is a murderer and must face the ultimate penalty of death.

Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

If someone kills another with a wooden weapon, they are a murderer and must face death.

The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

The one seeking justice will personally end the killer's life; upon their encounter, he will ensure the murderer pays.

But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

If he harms him out of spite, or attacks him with premeditated intent, leading to his death;

Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

If someone kills another out of hatred, they too must face death. They are a murderer and will be punished by the avenger of the victim when they cross paths.

But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

But if he accidentally harms him without any ill-will, or unintentionally throws something at him without premeditation,

Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:

Or if, without seeing him, a man drops a stone on someone and kills him, though he was not his enemy and intended no harm,

Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

The community will decide between the person who killed and the one seeking revenge, based on these rules.

And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

The community will protect the one who killed from the avenger, returning him to his safe city where he had escaped. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was blessed with sacred oil.

But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;

If the one who caused harm ever leaves the safety of the city where he sought refuge,

And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

If the avenger of blood finds the killer outside the sanctuary city and takes his life, he will not be held guilty for shedding blood.

Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

He should have stayed in his sanctuary city until the high priest passed away. Only then, after the high priest's death, can the one who caused harm return to his own land.

So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

These rules will guide your judgment, forever, in every home, across all generations.

Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Anyone who takes a life must face death, but only if confirmed by multiple witnesses. A single witness isn't enough to condemn someone to death.

Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

Never accept a payment to spare the life of a murderer who deserves death; he must surely be put to death.

And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

Do not accept a payment to let anyone who has sought sanctuary in a refuge city return home before the priest passes away.

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Don't pollute the land you live in, for bloodshed taints it. The land can't be cleansed of the blood spilled on it except by the blood of the one who shed it.

Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

Don't pollute the land you live in, where I, the LORD, also reside. Remember, I live among you, the people of Israel.