²⁵ he gave this command to the Levites who carried^(A) 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.^{(B) 27} For I know how rebellious^(C) and stiff-necked^(D) 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.^{(E) 29} For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt^(F) and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster^(G) 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.”