Psalm 140^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The Death of Moses

34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo^(A) from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,^(B) across from Jericho.^(C) There the Lord showed^(D) him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan,^{(E) 2} all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea,^{(F) 3} the Negev^(G) and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,^(H) as far as Zoar.^{(I) 4} Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath^(J) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(K) when I said, ‘I will give it^(L) to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross^(M) over into it.”

⁵ And Moses the servant of the Lord^(N) died^(O) there in Moab, as the Lord had said. ⁶ He buried him^[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor,^(P) but to this day no one knows where his grave is.^{(Q) 7} Moses was a hundred and twenty years old^(R) when he died, yet his eyes were not weak^(S) nor his strength gone.^{(T) 8} The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab^(U) thirty days,^(V) until the time of weeping and mourning^(W) was over.

⁹ Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[b] of wisdom^(X) because Moses had laid his hands on him.^(Y) So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ Since then, no prophet^(Z) has risen in Israel like Moses,^(AA) whom the Lord knew face to face,^{(AB) 11} who did all those signs and wonders^(AC) the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials^(AD) and to his whole land. ¹² For no one has^(AE) ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds^(AF) that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”^[a](A)

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.^(B) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”^{[b](C) 17} Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,^(D) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^{(E) 18} But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

¹⁹ Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,

²¹ But concerning Israel he says,

³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[a] is near, right at the door.^{(A) 34} Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.^{(B) 35} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(C)

The Day and Hour Unknown^(D)(E)

³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[b] but only the Father.^{(F) 37} As it was in the days of Noah,^(G) so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,^(H) up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.^{(I) 40} Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.^{(J) 41} Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.^(K)

⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.^{(L) 43} But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,^(M) he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready,^(N) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,^(O) whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.^{(P) 47} Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.^{(Q) 48} But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.^{(R) 50} The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(S)