Blameless: the Hebrew word (used also in God’s command to Abraham in Gen 17.1) is understood in different ways. Some take it to mean “without moral fault” (see its use in Psa 18.23, 25). Many, like Good News Translation “Be completely faithful,” take it to indicate the degree of loyalty, or devotion, to God. So New Revised Standard Version has “remain completely loyal to the LORD your God,” Revised English Bible “undivided in your service of the LORD your God,” and New Jerusalem Bible “faultless in your relationship with the LORD your God.” (The Greek word used by the Septuagint to translate this Hebrew term appears in Matt 5.48.) It is recommended that the latter meaning be expressed in translation. So another way to render this verse is “Do everything that the LORD orders you to do.” However, in the context of avoiding the abominable practices (verse 13), we may also translate “Don’t ever do any of these disgusting [or, abominable] things.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .