¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that after my departure^(A) you will always be able to remember these things.

¹⁹ “Now write^(A) down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness^(B) for me against them. ²⁰ When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,^(C) and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods^(D) and worship them,^(E) rejecting me and breaking my covenant.^{(F) 21} And when many disasters and calamities come on them,^(G) this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do,^(H) even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” ²² So Moses wrote^(I) down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

²³ The Lord gave this command^(J) to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous,^(K) for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”

²⁴ After Moses finished writing^(L) in a book the words of this law^(M) from beginning to end, ²⁵ he gave this command to the Levites who carried^(N) the ark of the covenant of the Lord: ²⁶ “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.^{(O) 27} For I know how rebellious^(P) and stiff-necked^(Q) you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! ²⁸ Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them.^{(R) 29} For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt^(S) and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster^(T) will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

Prophecy of Scripture

¹² So I will always remind you of these things,^(A) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth^(B) you now have.

²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”^(A)

²⁵ On that day Joshua made a covenant^(B) for the people, and there at Shechem^(C) he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.^{(D) 26} And Joshua recorded^(E) these things in the Book of the Law of God.^(F) Then he took a large stone^(G) and set it up there under the oak^(H) near the holy place of the Lord.

²⁷ “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone^(I) will be a witness^(J) against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue^(K) to your God.”^(L)

²⁸ Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.^(M)

Buried in the Promised Land^(N)

²⁹ After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died^(O) at the age of a hundred and ten.^(P)

⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(A) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(B) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(C)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(D) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(E) and to self-control, perseverance;^(F) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(G) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^(H)

⁴ By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended^(A) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.^(B) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.^(C)

² And the things you have heard me say^(A) in the presence of many witnesses^(B) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

³¹ They spoke about his departure,^[a](A) which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.