Add parallel Print Page Options

17 The king shall not have many wives, that draw his mind to lusts, neither he shall have great weights of silver and of gold. (The king shall not have many wives, who would draw away his mind to lust, or too much fleshliness, nor shall he have great quantities of silver and gold.)

18 Forsooth after that he hath set in the throne of his realm, he shall write to himself, that is, shall make to be written, the deuteronomy, that is, declaration, of this law in a book, and he shall take (the) exemplar of (the) priests of the kin of Levi; (And after that he hath sat on the throne of his kingdom, he shall have written for himself the deuteronomy, or the declaration, of this law in a book, and his copy shall be made from the original held by the levitical priests;)

19 and he shall have it with him, and he shall read it in all the days of his life, that he learn to dread his Lord God, and to keep his words and his ceremonies, that be commanded in the law; (and he shall have it with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he can learn to fear the Lord his God/so that he can learn to revere the Lord his God, and obey all his words and his statutes, that be commanded in the law;)

Read full chapter

17 He must not take many wives,(A) or his heart will be led astray.(B) He must not accumulate(C) large amounts of silver and gold.(D)

18 When he takes the throne(E) of his kingdom, he is to write(F) for himself on a scroll a copy(G) of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life(H) so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees(I)

Read full chapter