GodsWord - Leviticus - 19

19:1  The LORD spoke to Moses,

19:2  "Tell the whole congregation of Israel: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

19:3  "Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of worship. I am the LORD your God.

19:4  "Don't turn to worthless gods or cast metal idols. Never make any gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.

19:5  "When you bring a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it properly so that you will be accepted.

19:6  Eat your sacrifice on the day you bring it and on the next day. On the third day burn whatever is left over.

19:7  If you eat any of it on the third day, it is repulsive and will not be accepted.

19:8  Those who eat it will be punished because they have dishonored what is holy to the LORD. They must be excluded from the people.

19:9  "When you harvest the grain in your land, don't harvest the grain in the corners of your fields or gather what is left after you're finished.

19:10  Don't harvest your vineyard a second time or pick up fallen grapes. Leave them for poor people and foreigners. I am the LORD your God.

19:11  "Never steal, lie, or deceive your neighbor.

19:12  "Never swear by my name in order to deceive anyone. This dishonors the name of your God. I am the LORD.

19:13  "Never oppress or rob your neighbor. Never keep the pay you owe a hired worker overnight.

19:14  Never curse deaf people or put anything in the way of blind people to make them stumble. Instead, fear your God. I am the LORD.

19:15  "Don't be corrupt when administering justice. Never give special favors to poor people, and never show preference to important people. Judge your neighbor fairly.

19:16  Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

19:17  "Never hate another Israelite. Be sure to correct your neighbor so that you will not be guilty of sinning along with him.

19:18  Never get revenge. Never hold a grudge against any of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the LORD.

19:19  "Obey my laws. Never crossbreed different kinds of animals. Never plant two kinds of crops in your field. Never wear clothes made from two kinds of material.

19:20  "If a man has sexual intercourse with a female slave who is engaged to another man and if her freedom was never bought or given to her, they should not be put to death. He will only pay a fine because she is a slave.

19:21  He must bring a ram for his guilt offering to the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

19:22  In the LORD's presence the priest will use them to make peace with the LORD for this sin. The man will be forgiven for this sin.

19:23  "When you come into the land and plant all kinds of fruit trees, you must not eat the fruit for the first three years.

19:24  In the fourth year all the fruit will be a holy offering of praise to the LORD.

19:25  In the fifth year you may eat the fruit. Do this to make the trees produce more for you. I am the LORD your God.

19:26  "Never eat any meat with blood still in it. "Never cast evil spells, and never consult fortunetellers.

19:27  "Never shave the hair on your foreheads, and never cut the edges of your beard.

19:28  Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am the LORD.

19:29  "Never dishonor your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the country will turn to prostitution and be filled with people who are perverted.

19:30  "Observe my days of worship and respect my holy tent. I am the LORD.

19:31  "Don't turn to psychics or mediums to get help. That will make you unclean. I am the LORD your God.

19:32  "Show respect to the elderly, and honor older people. In this way you show respect for your God. I am the LORD.

19:33  "Never mistreat a foreigner living in your land.

19:34  Foreigners living among you will be like your own people. Love them as you love yourself, because you were foreigners living in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

19:35  "Don't be corrupt when administering justice concerning length, weight, or measuring liquid.

19:36  Use honest scales, honest weights, and honest measures. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt.

19:37  "Obey all my laws and all my rules, and live by them. I am the LORD."