4 Moses: So now, Israel, pay close attention to the laws and judgments I’m going to teach you. If you follow them, you’ll enter and live in the land the Eternal, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You’ll conquer it, and it will become your territory. ² Don’t add anything to what I command you, and don’t take away anything from it; just follow the commands of the Eternal your God that I’m giving you now.

³ You saw with your own eyes what the Eternal did about your immorality at Baal-peor, the mountain-god. When some of you followed after the Baal god, the Eternal your God killed them right in front of you—not one of them survived!^{[a] 4} But all of you who remained loyal to the Eternal your God are still alive today. ⁵ So pay attention—I’m teaching you the rules and judgments the Eternal my God has given me for you. You’re to follow them when you enter the land and settle there. ⁶ If you obey them carefully, all the nations around you will marvel at your wisdom and understanding. They’ll hear about these rules and say, “This is a great nation—its people are so wise and understanding!” ⁷ Indeed, what other nation is so great that it has a god that compares to the Eternal our God as He is near to us whenever we call on Him? ⁸ What other nation is so great that it has rules and judgments as just as the ones contained in this whole law I’m presenting to you today?