Deuteronomy 31:20-29

English Standard Version

²⁰ For when I have brought them into the land ^(A)flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and ^(B)grown fat, ^(C)they will turn to other gods and serve them, and ^(D)despise me and ^(E)break my covenant. ²¹ And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as ^(F)a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For ^(G)I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.” ²² So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.

^23 (H)And the Lord^[a] commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, ^(I)“Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. ^(J)I will be with you.”

²⁴ When Moses had finished ^(K)writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, ²⁵ Moses commanded ^(L)the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, ²⁶ “Take this Book of the Law ^(M)and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for ^(N)a witness against you. ²⁷ For I know how rebellious and ^(O)stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, ^(P)you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death! ²⁸ Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak ^(Q)these words in their ears and ^(R)call heaven and earth to witness against them. ²⁹ For I know that after my death ^(S)you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And ^(T)in the days to come ^(U)evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, ^(V)provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”