18 When he takes the throne(A) of his kingdom, he is to write(B) for himself on a scroll a copy(C) 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(D) so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees(E) 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law(F) to the right or to the left.(G) Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.(H)

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18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, (A)he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, (B)approved by[a] the Levitical priests. 19 And (C)it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, (D)that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he (E)may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, (F)so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 17:18 Hebrew from before

18 “Now it shall come about, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this Law on a scroll [a](A)in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it (B)all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the Lord his God, [b]by carefully following all the words of this Law and these statutes, 20 so that his heart will not be haughty toward his countrymen, (C)and that he will not turn away from the commandment to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may [c]live long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 17:18 Lit from before
  2. Deuteronomy 17:19 Lit to keep all...to do them,
  3. Deuteronomy 17:20 Lit prolong days

18 Instead, when he sits on his royal throne, he himself must write a copy of this Instruction on a scroll in the presence of the levitical priests. 19 That Instruction must remain with him, and he must read in it every day of his life so that he learns to revere the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this Instruction and these regulations, by doing them, 20 by not being overbearing toward his fellow Israelites, and by not deviating even a bit from the commandment. If the king does all that, he will ensure lasting rule in Israel for himself and for his successors.

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18 The official copy of God's laws[a] will be kept by the priests of the Levi tribe. So, as soon as anyone becomes king, he must go to the priests and write out a copy of these laws while they watch. 19 Each day the king must read and obey these laws, so that he will learn to worship the Lord with fear and trembling 20 and not think that he's better than everyone else.

If the king completely obeys the Lord's commands, he and his descendants will rule Israel for many years.

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Footnotes

  1. 17.18 God's laws: Or “God's laws for the king.”