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.^(A)

²⁶ I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses^(A) against you^(B) this day that you will quickly perish^(C) from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you^(A) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.^(B) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”^(A)

A Rebellious Nation

¹² Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn^(A) to fear^(B) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.

¹⁰ All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel,

¹⁶ The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders^(A) who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.^(B) Have them come to the tent of meeting,^(C) that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷ I will come down and speak with you^(D) there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them.^(E) They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.^(F)