Deuteronomy 19 · Scripture · Fisherman's Friend

1

And when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed the nations, which God gives thee, [even] the land, and ye shall inherit them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,

ΕΑΝ δὲ ἀφανίσῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ὁ Θεὸς δίδωσί σοι τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε αὐτοὺς καὶ κατοικήσετε ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις αὐτῶν,

Є҆гда́ же погꙋби́тъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й ꙗ҆зы́ки, и҆́хже гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й дае́тъ тебѣ̀ зе́млю, и҆ наслѣ́диши и҆̀хъ и҆ всели́шисѧ во градѣ́хъ и҆́хъ и҆ въ домѣ́хъ и҆́хъ,

2

thou shalt separate for thyself three cities in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee.

τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς σου, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι.

трѝ гра́ды да ѿлꙋчи́ши себѣ̀ средѝ землѝ твоеѧ̀, ю҆́же гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й дае́тъ тебѣ̀ въ наслѣ́дїе.

3

Take a survey of thy way, and thou shalt divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God apportions to thee, into three parts, and there shall be there a refuge for every manslayer.

στόχασαί σοι τὴν ὁδὸν καὶ τριμεριεῖς τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς σου, ἣν καταμερίζει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, καὶ ἔσται ἐκεῖ καταφυγὴ παντὶ φονευτῇ.

Оу҆гото́ви себѣ̀ пꙋ́ть, и҆ на тро́е раздѣлѝ предѣ́лы землѝ твоеѧ̀, ю҆́же раздѣлѧ́етъ тебѣ̀ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й: и҆ да бꙋ́детъ ᲂу҆бѣ́жище та́мѡ всѧ́комꙋ ᲂу҆бі́йцѣ.

4

And this shall be the ordinance of the manslayer, who shall flee thither, and shall live, whosoever shall have smitten his neighbour ignorantly, whereas he hated him not in times past.

τοῦτο δὲ ἔσται τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ φονευτοῦ, ὃς ἂν φύγῃ ἐκεῖ καὶ ζήσεται· ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰδὼς καὶ οὗτος οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθὲς καὶ τρίτης,

Сїе́ же да бꙋ́детъ заповѣ́данїе ᲂу҆бі́йцѣ, и҆́же а҆́ще ᲂу҆бѣжи́тъ та́мѡ, и҆ жи́въ бꙋ́детъ: и҆́же а҆́ще ᲂу҆бїе́тъ бли́жнѧго своего̀ не вѣ́дѧ, и҆ се́й не ненави́дѣ є҆го̀ пре́жде вчера́шнѧгѡ днѐ и҆ тре́тїѧгѡ,

5

And whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.

καὶ ὃς ἐὰν εἰσέλθῃ μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν συναγαγεῖν ξύλα, καὶ ἐκκρουσθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τῇ ἀξίνῃ κόπτοντος τὸ ξύλον, καὶ ἐκπεσὸν τὸ σιδήριον ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τύχῃ τοῦ πλησίον, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, οὗτος καταφεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων καὶ ζήσεται,

и҆ и҆́же а҆́ще по́йдетъ съ по́дрꙋгомъ свои́мъ въ лѣ́съ собира́ти дрова̀, и҆ поползне́тсѧ рꙋка̀ є҆гѡ̀ съ сѣки́рою сѣкꙋ́щагѡ дрова̀, и҆ спа́дши сѣки́ра съ топори́ща ᲂу҆лꙋчи́тъ по́дрꙋга є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆́мретъ, се́й да ᲂу҆бѣжи́тъ во є҆ди́нъ ѿ градѡ́въ си́хъ, и҆ жи́въ да бꙋ́детъ:

Jerome †420

The very words of Scripture indicate that even ignorance is a sin. This is why Job offers holocausts for his sons, lest perchance they may have sinned unwittingly in thought. And if a man is killed by the iron of an axe that flies off the handle when a man is hewing wood, the wood hewer is ordered to flee to a city of refuge and remain in that place until the death of the high priest. That is to say, [he remains there] until he is redeemed by the blood of the Savior, either in the house of baptism or by repentance, which supplies the efficacy of the grace of baptism through the ineffable mercy of the Savior. [The Savior] does not wish anybody to perish, nor does he find his delight in the death of sinners, but [he would] rather that they be converted from their way and live.
Against the Pelagians 1.33

Gregory the Dialogist †604

For indeed we go with a friend into the wood as often as we betake ourselves to look into the delinquencies of subordinates. And we hew wood in simplicity of heart, when with pious intention we cut off the vices of delinquents. But the axe flies from the hand, when rebuke is drawn on to asperity more than need requires. And the iron leaps from the helve, when out of reproof issues speech too hard. And he smites and slays his friend, because overstrained contumely cuts him off from the spirit of love. For the mind of one who is reproved suddenly breaks out into hatred, if immoderate reproof charges it beyond its due. But he who smites wood incautiously and destroys his neighbour must needs fly to three cities, that in one of them he may live protected; since if, betaking himself to the laments of penitence, he is hidden under hope and charity in sacramental unity, he is not held guilty of the perpetrated homicide.
The Book of Pastoral Rule, Part 2, Chapter 10

6

Lest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence of death, because he hated him not in time past.

ἵνα μὴ διώξας ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τοῦ αἵματος ὀπίσω τοῦ φονεύσαντος, ὅτι παρατεθέρμανται τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ καταλάβῃ αὐτόν, ἐὰν μακροτέρα ᾖ ἡ ὁδός, καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ τούτῳ οὐκ ἔστι κρίσις θανάτου, ὅτι οὐ μισῶν ἦν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθές, οὐδὲ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης.

да не погна́въ ᲂу҆́жикъ кро́ве в̾слѣ́дъ ᲂу҆би́вшагѡ, ꙗ҆́кѡ разгори́тсѧ се́рдце є҆мꙋ̀, и҆ пости́гнетъ є҆го̀, а҆́ще должа́йшїй бꙋ́детъ пꙋ́ть, и҆ ᲂу҆бїе́тъ дꙋ́шꙋ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆́мретъ: и҆ семꙋ̀ нѣ́сть сꙋ́дъ сме́ртный, поне́же не бѣ̀ ненави́дѧ є҆го̀ пре́жде вчера́шнѧгѡ и҆ тре́тїѧгѡ днѐ:

7

Therefore I charge thee, saying, Thou shalt separate for thyself three cities.

διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο λέγων· τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ·

сегѡ̀ ра́ди заповѣ́даю а҆́зъ тебѣ̀ сло́во сїѐ, глаго́лѧ: трѝ гра́ды да ѿлꙋчи́ши себѣ̀.

8

And if the Lord shall enlarge thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and the Lord shall give to thee all the land which he said he would give to thy fathers;

ἐὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου, καὶ δῷ σοι Κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ἣν εἶπε δοῦναι τοῖς πατράσι σου,

А҆́ще же разшири́тъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й предѣ́лы твоѧ̑, ꙗ҆́коже клѧ́тсѧ ѻ҆тцє́мъ твои̑мъ, и҆ да́стъ тебѣ̀ гдⷭ҇ь всю̀ зе́млю, ю҆́же речѐ да́ти ѻ҆тцє́мъ твои̑мъ,

9

if thou shalt hearken to do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways continually; thou shalt add for thyself yet three cities to these three.

ἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἀγαπᾶν Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, προσθήσειςσεαυτῷ ἔτι τρεῖς πόλεις πρὸς τὰς τρεῖς ταύτας,

а҆́ще послꙋ́шаеши твори́ти всѧ̑ за́пѡвѣди сїѧ̑, ꙗ҆̀же а҆́зъ заповѣ́даю тебѣ̀ дне́сь, люби́ти гдⷭ҇а бг҃а твоего̀, ходи́ти во всѣ́хъ пꙋте́хъ є҆гѡ̀ всѧ̑ дни̑: и҆ да приложи́ши себѣ̀ є҆щѐ трѝ гра́ды къ си̑мъ трїе́мъ градѡ́мъ,

10

So innocent blood shall not be spilt in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit, and there shall not be in thee one guilty of blood.

καὶ οὐκ ἐκχυθήσεται αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ γῇ, ᾗ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ αἵματι ἔνοχος.

и҆ да не пролїе́тсѧ кро́вь безви́нна въ землѝ твое́й, ю҆́же гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й дае́тъ тебѣ̀ въ жре́бїй, и҆ да не бꙋ́детъ въ тебѣ̀ кро́ви пови́ненъ.

11

But if there should be in thee a man hating his neighbour, and he should lay wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him, that he die, and he should flee to one of these cities,

ἐὰ δὲ γένηται ἐν σοὶ ἄνθρωπος μισῶν τὸν πλησίον καὶ ἐνεδρεύσῃ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐπαναστῇ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ φύγῃ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων,

А҆́ще же бꙋ́детъ ᲂу҆ тебє̀ человѣ́къ ненави́дѧй бли́жнѧго своего̀, и҆ навѣ́тъ сотвори́тъ на́нь, и҆ воста́нетъ на́нь, и҆ порази́тъ дꙋ́шꙋ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆́мретъ, и҆ вбѣ́гнетъ во є҆ди́нъ ѿ градѡ́въ си́хъ,

12

then shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.

καὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ λήψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων τοῦ αἵματος, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται·

да по́слютъ старѣ̑йшины гра́да тогѡ̀, и҆ во́змꙋтъ є҆го̀ ѿтꙋ́дꙋ, и҆ да предадѧ́тъ є҆го̀ въ рꙋ́цѣ ᲂу҆́жикѡвъ кро́ве, и҆ да ᲂу҆́мретъ:

13

Thine eye shall not spare him; so shalt thou purge innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.

οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ καὶ καθαριεῖς τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εὖ σοι ἔσται.

да не пощади́тъ є҆гѡ̀ ѻ҆́ко твоѐ, и҆ да ѡ҆чи́стиши кро́вь непови́ннꙋю ѿ і҆и҃лѧ, и҆ бла́го бꙋ́детъ тебѣ̀.

14

Thou shalt not move the landmarks of thy neighbour, which thy fathers set in the inheritance, in which thou hast obtained a share in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit.

Οὐ μετακινήσεις ὅρια τοῦ πλησίον, ἃ ἔστησαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἐν τῇ κληρονομίᾳ, ᾗ κατεκληρονομήθης ἐν τῇ γῇ, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ.

Да не предви́жеши предѣ́лѡвъ бли́жнѧгѡ своегѡ̀, ꙗ҆̀же поста́виша ѻ҆тцы̀ твоѝ въ наслѣ́дїи твое́мъ, є҆́же наслѣ́довалъ є҆сѝ въ землѝ, ю҆́же гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й дае́тъ тебѣ̀ во жре́бїй.

15

One witness shall not stand to testify against a man for any iniquity, or for any fault, or for any sin which he may commit; by the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall every word be established.

Οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ μάρτυς εἷς μαρτυρῆσαι κατὰ ἀνθρώπου κατὰ πᾶσαν ἀδικίαν καὶ κατὰ πᾶν ἁμάρτημα καὶ κατὰ πᾶσαν ἁμαρτίαν, ἣν ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ· ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων καὶ ἐπὶ στόματος τριῶν μαρτύρων στήσεται πᾶν ρῆμα.

Да не пребꙋ́детъ свидѣ́тель є҆ди́нъ во свидѣ́тельство на человѣ́ка по всѧ́кой ѡ҆би́дѣ и҆ по всѧ́комꙋ престꙋпле́нїю и҆ по всѧ́комꙋ грѣхꙋ̀, и҆́мже а҆́ще согрѣши́тъ: при ᲂу҆стѣ́хъ двою̀ свидѣ́телей и҆ при ᲂу҆стѣ́хъ трїе́хъ свидѣ́телей да ста́нетъ всѧ́къ глаго́лъ.

2 Corinthians 13:1-2 †56

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. [Deuteronomy 19:15] I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare

Matthew 18:15-17 †60

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [Deuteronomy 19:15] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Cyril of Jerusalem †386

[Christ] did then truly rise, and after he had risen, he was seen again by his disciples. And the twelve disciples were witnesses of his resurrection, testifying not with words meant to please but contending for the truth of the resurrection even unto torture and death. Further, “on the word of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed,” according to Scripture. There are twelve witnesses to the resurrection of Christ, and do you still disbelieve in the resurrection?
Catechetical Lecture 4.12

Augustine of Hippo †430

Therefore if a people composed of a great multitude was found a false witness, how must it be understood, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall stand,” except that in this way. The Trinity, in which is unending stability of truth, was revealed through a mystery. Do you want to have a good case? Have two or three witnesses, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Tractate on the Gospel of John 36.10.1

As a matter of fact, a single witness generally speaks the truth, while a mob may tell lies. And the world, in its conversion to Christianity, believed one apostle preaching the gospel rather than the mistaken multitude who persecuted him.
Against Faustus, a Manichaean 16.13

Maximus of Turin †465

At the birth of the Savior, then, there was fulfilled that divine sentence which says, “Every word shall stand with two or three witnesses.” For see, the Word of God is born with the Trinity as witness. For indeed, in the womb of holy Mary—when the Holy Spirit comes upon her, when the Most High overshadows her, when Christ is begotten—there is implied a confession of faith in him.
Sermon 61B.3

16

And if an unjust witness rise up against a man, alleging iniquity against him;

ἐὰν δὲ καταστῇ μάρτυς ἄδικος κατὰ ἀνθρώπου καταλέγων αὐτοῦ ἀσέβειαν,

А҆́ще же воста́нетъ свидѣ́тель непра́веденъ на человѣ́ка, глаго́лѧ на него̀ нече́стїе,

17

then shall the two men between whom the controversy is, stand before the Lord, and before the priests, and before the judges, who may be in those days.

καὶ στήσονται οἱ δύο ἄνθρωποι, οἷς ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἡ ἀντιλογία, ἔναντι Κυρίου καὶ ἔναντι τῶν ἱερέων καὶ ἔναντι τῶν κριτῶν, οἳ ἂν ὦσιν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις,

да ста́нꙋтъ ѻ҆́ба человѣ̑ка, и҆̀мже є҆́сть прѧ̀, пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ и҆ пред̾ жєрцы̀ и҆ пред̾ сꙋдїѧ́ми, и҆̀же бꙋ́дꙋтъ въ ты̑ѧ дни̑,

18

And the judges shall make diligent inquiry, and, behold, [if] an unjust witness has borne unjust testimony; [and] has stood up against his brother;

καὶ ἐξετάσωσιν οἱ κριταὶ ἀκριβῶς, καὶ ἰδοὺ μάρτυς ἄδικος ἐμαρτύρησεν ἄδικα, ἀντέστη κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ,

и҆ да и҆спыта́ютъ и҆̀хъ сꙋдїи̑ прилѣ́жнѡ, и҆ сѐ, свидѣ́тель непра́веденъ свидѣ́тельствова непра́вдꙋ, воста̀ на бра́та своего̀:

19

then shall ye do to him as he wickedly devised to do against his brother, and thou shalt remove the evil from yourselves.

καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτῷ ὃν τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσατο ποιῆσαι κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸ πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν.

да сотвори́те є҆мꙋ̀, ꙗ҆́коже и҆ ѻ҆́нъ ᲂу҆мы́сли сотвори́ти сꙋпроти́въ бра́та своегѡ̀, и҆ и҆зми́те ѕло́е ѿ ва́съ самѣ́хъ:

20

And the rest shall hear and fear, and do no more according to this evil thing in the midst of you.

καὶ οἱ ἐπίλοιποι ἀκούσαντες φοβηθήσονται καὶ οὐ προσθήσουσιν ἔτι ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸ ρῆμα τὸ πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν.

да и҆ про́чїи ᲂу҆слы́шавше ᲂу҆боѧ́тсѧ, и҆ не приложа́тъ ктомꙋ̀ твори́ти словесѐ ѕла́гѡ сегѡ̀ въ ва́съ:

21

Thine eye shall not spare him: [thou shalt exact] life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ· ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς, ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ, ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος, χεῖρα ἀντὶ χειρός, πόδα ἀντὶ ποδός.

да не пощади́тъ є҆гѡ̀ ѻ҆́ко твоѐ: дꙋ́шꙋ за дꙋ́шꙋ, ѻ҆́ко за ѻ҆́ко, зꙋ́бъ за зꙋ́бъ, рꙋ́кꙋ за рꙋ́кꙋ, но́гꙋ за но́гꙋ, ꙗ҆́коже а҆́ще кто̀ да́стъ поро́къ на бли́жнѧго своего̀, си́це возда́стсѧ є҆мꙋ̀.