“ Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses.

“你吩咐以色列人说：你们要照着我藉摩西所晓谕你们的，为自己设立逃城，

“你吩咐以色列人说：‘你们要照我藉摩西所吩咐你们的，为自己设立逃城，

“你吩咐以色列人说：‘你们要照我藉摩西所吩咐你们的，为自己设立逃城，

“你吩咐以色列人，照我以前借摩西所吩咐你们的，设立一些城邑作为避难城，

“你要告诉以色列人：‘你们要照着我藉着摩西命令你们的，为自己设立避难城，

「你吩咐以色列人說：你們要照着我藉摩西所曉諭你們的，為自己設立逃城，

「你吩咐以色列人說：『你們要照我藉摩西所吩咐你們的，為自己設立逃城，

「你吩咐以色列人說：『你們要照我藉摩西所吩咐你們的，為自己設立逃城，

「你吩咐以色列人，照我以前藉摩西所吩咐你們的，設立一些城邑作為避難城，

“你要告訴以色列人：‘你們要照著我藉著摩西命令你們的，為自己設立避難城，

『你要告訴以色列人說：「你們要照我由摩西經手所告訴你們的為自己設立逃罪城，

告以色列人云、當遵我藉摩西所命爾者、簡立逃城、

告以色列族云、昔我諭摩西、必有數邑為逋逃之藪、今當立之、

爾告以色列人云、當遵我昔託摩西所命爾者、擇逃避之邑、

“ Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

“ Tell the Israelites to choose the cities to go to for safety, just as I directed you through Moses.

“ Say to the people of Israel,‘ Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

“ Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

“ Speak to the sons of Israel, saying,‘ Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

“ Speak to the children of Israel, saying:‘ Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses,

“ Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

“ Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses.

“ Speak to the children of Israel, saying,‘ Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses,

Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.Anyone who killed another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, could flee there to live in safety.These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.

“ Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety. In addition, give them forty two other towns.

designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally.These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community.Designate six cities of refuge for yourselves,three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan.These cities are for the protection of Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may flee there for safety.“ But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.Or if someone with a stone in his hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.Or if someone strikes and kills another person with a wooden object, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the avenger must put the murderer to death.So if someone hates another person and waits in ambush, then pushes him or throws something at him and he dies, it is murder.Or if someone hates another person and hits him with a fist and he dies, it is murder. In such cases, the avenger must put the murderer to death when they meet.“ But suppose someone pushes another person without having shown previous hostility, or throws something that unintentionally hits another person,or accidentally drops a huge stone on someone, though they were not enemies, and the person dies.If this should happen, the community must follow these regulations in making a judgment between the slayer and the avenger, the victim’s nearest relative:

Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the Lord your God is giving you.Survey the territory, and divide the land the Lord your God is giving you into three districts, with one of these cities in each district. Then anyone who has killed someone can flee to one of the cities of refuge for safety.“ If someone kills another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, the slayer may flee to any of these cities to live in safety.For example, suppose someone goes into the forest with a neighbor to cut wood. And suppose one of them swings an ax to chop down a tree, and the ax head flies off the handle, killing the other person. In such cases, the slayer may flee to one of the cities of refuge to live in safety.“ If the distance to the nearest city of refuge is too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill the person who caused the death. Then the slayer would die unfairly, since he had never shown hostility toward the person who died.That is why I am commanding you to set aside three cities of refuge.“ And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them,you must designate three additional cities of refuge.( He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you— if you always love the Lord your God and walk in his ways.)That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.“ But suppose someone is hostile toward a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders him and then flees to one of the cities of refuge.In that case, the elders of the murderer’s hometown must send agents to the city of refuge to bring him back and hand him over to the dead person’s avenger to be put to death.Do not feel sorry for that murderer! Purge from Israel the guilt of murdering innocent people; then all will go well with you.

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one— for God himself has given us right standing with himself.Who then will condemn us? No one— for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety.However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death.