Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Contemporary English Version

What the Lord Wants

Moses said:

¹² People of Israel, what does the Lord your God want from you? The Lord wants you to respect and follow him, to love and serve him with all your heart and soul, ¹³ and to obey his laws and teachings that I am giving you today. Do this, and all will go well for you.

¹⁴ Everything belongs to the Lord your God, not only the earth and everything on it, but also the sky and the highest heavens. ¹⁵ Yet the Lord loved your ancestors and wanted them to belong to him. So he chose them and their descendants rather than any other nation, and today you are still his people.

¹⁶ Remember your agreement with the Lord and stop being so stubborn. ^17 (A) The Lord your God is more powerful than all other gods and lords, and his tremendous power is to be feared. His decisions are always fair, and you cannot bribe him to change his mind. ^18 (B) The Lord defends the rights of orphans and widows. He cares for foreigners and gives them food and clothing. ¹⁹ And you should also care for them, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

²⁰ Respect the Lord your God, be faithful, and serve only him, making promises in his name. ²¹ Offer your praises to him, because you have seen him work such terrifying miracles for you.

^22 (C) When your ancestors went to live in Egypt, there were only 70 of them. But the Lord has blessed you, and now there are more of you than there are stars in the sky.