New Living Translation

Deuteronomy 23:4-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

4. These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in distant Aram-naharaim to curse you.

5. But the lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the lord your God loves you.

6. As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.

7. “Do not detest the Edomites or the Egyptians, because the Edomites are your relatives and you lived as foreigners among the Egyptians.

8. The third generation of Edomites and Egyptians may enter the assembly of the lord.

9. “When you go to war against your enemies, be sure to stay away from anything that is impure.

10. “Any man who becomes ceremonially defiled because of a nocturnal emission must leave the camp and stay away all day.

11. Toward evening he must bathe himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.

12. “You must have a designated area outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself.

13. Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement.

14. The camp must be holy, for the lord your God moves around in your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies. He must not see any shameful thing among you, or he will turn away from you.