⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said^(A) to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them,^(B) and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;^(C) he will never leave you nor forsake you.^(D) Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Public Reading of the Law

⁹ So Moses wrote^(E) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried^(F) the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰ Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts,^(G) during the Festival of Tabernacles,^{(H) 11} when all Israel comes to appear^(I) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,^(J) you shall read this law^(K) before them in their hearing. ¹² Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn^(L) to fear^(M) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. ¹³ Their children,^(N) who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”