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31 And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said. And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11 when all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: 13 and that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. 19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. 21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. 23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, 26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. 27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?

28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. 29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

30 And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

Joshua the New Leader of Israel(A)

31 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to them: “I (B)am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer (C)go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, (D)‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God (E)Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. (F)Joshua himself crosses over before you, just (G)as the Lord has said. (H)And the Lord will do to them (I)as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. (J)The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. (K)Be strong and of good courage, (L)do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, (M)He is the One who goes with you. (N)He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, (O)“Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, (P)He is the One who goes before you. (Q)He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

The Law to Be Read Every Seven Years

So Moses wrote this law (R)and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, (S)who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the (T)year of release, (U)at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to (V)appear before the Lord your God in the (W)place which He chooses, (X)you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 (Y)Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, (Z)who have not known it, (AA)may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”

Prediction of Israel’s Rebellion

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, (AB)“Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that (AC)I may [a]inaugurate him.”

So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. 15 Now (AD)the Lord appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle.

16 And the Lord said to Moses: “Behold, you will [b]rest with your fathers; and this people will (AE)rise and (AF)play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will (AG)forsake Me and (AH)break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be (AI)aroused against them in that day, and (AJ)I will forsake them, and I will (AK)hide My face from them, and they shall be [c]devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, (AL)‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is (AM)not among us?’ 18 And (AN)I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.

19 “Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be (AO)a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves (AP)and grown fat, (AQ)then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall be, (AR)when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for (AS)I know the inclination (AT)of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.

22 Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. 23 (AU)Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, (AV)“Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”

24 So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying: 26 “Take this Book of the Law, (AW)and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there (AX)as a witness against you; 27 (AY)for I know your rebellion and your (AZ)stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death? 28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing (BA)and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will (BB)become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And (BC)evil will befall you (BD)in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

The Song of Moses

30 Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 31:14 commission
  2. Deuteronomy 31:16 Die and join your ancestors
  3. Deuteronomy 31:17 consumed

Joshua to Succeed Moses

31 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. He said to them, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer come and go. Also, the Lord has said to me, ‘You may not cross over the Jordan.’ The Lord your God will cross over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, you will possess them, and Joshua will cross over before you, just as the Lord has said. The Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, which He destroyed. The Lord will give them up before you, so that you may do to them according to all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage. Fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, it is He who goes with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you.”

Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you will enable them to inherit it. The Lord, He goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear, nor be dismayed.”

Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of the cancellation of debts, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel has come to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He will choose, you must read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men, women, children, and your foreigner who is within your towns, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. 13 Their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”

Prediction of Israel’s Rebellion

14 The Lord said to Moses, “Indeed, your days draw near when you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.

15 The Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the tent. 16 The Lord said to Moses, “You are about to lie down with your fathers, and this people will rise up and begin to prostitute themselves after the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they are going to be among them, and will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger will burn against them on that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they will be devoured, and many disasters and troubles will befall them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not among us?’ 18 And I will surely hide My face in that day for all the evil things which they shall have done, in that they turned to other gods.

19 “Now therefore write yourself this song and teach it to the children of Israel. Put it on their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten, and filled themselves, and become fat, then they will turn to other gods, and serve them, and provoke Me, and break My covenant. 21 Then when many disasters and troubles have fallen on them, this song will testify against them as a witness, for it must not be forgotten from the mouths of their descendants. For I know their intention which they are developing even now, before I have brought them into the land which I promised.” 22 Therefore, Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.

23 He gave Joshua, the son of Nun, an exhortation, and said, “Be strong and of a good courage, for you will bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”

24 When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were completed, 25 then Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, 26 “Take this Book of the Law, and put it inside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, so that it may be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Even now, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death? 28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you, and disaster will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

The Song of Moses

30 Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel:

Josué es instalado como sucesor de Moisés

31 Fue Moisés y habló estas palabras a todo Israel, y les dijo: Este día soy de edad de ciento veinte años; no puedo más salir ni entrar; además de esto Jehová me ha dicho: No pasarás este Jordán.(A) Jehová tu Dios, él pasa delante de ti; él destruirá a estas naciones delante de ti, y las heredarás; Josué será el que pasará delante de ti, como Jehová ha dicho. Y hará Jehová con ellos como hizo con Sehón y con Og, reyes de los amorreos, y con su tierra, a quienes destruyó.(B) Y los entregará Jehová delante de vosotros, y haréis con ellos conforme a todo lo que os he mandado. Esforzaos y cobrad ánimo; no temáis, ni tengáis miedo de ellos, porque Jehová tu Dios es el que va contigo; no te dejará, ni te desamparará.

Y llamó Moisés a Josué, y le dijo en presencia de todo Israel: Esfuérzate y anímate; porque tú entrarás con este pueblo a la tierra que juró Jehová a sus padres que les daría, y tú se la harás heredar. Y Jehová va delante de ti; él estará contigo, no te dejará, ni te desamparará;(C) no temas ni te intimides.

Y escribió Moisés esta ley, y la dio a los sacerdotes hijos de Leví, que llevaban el arca del pacto de Jehová, y a todos los ancianos de Israel. 10 Y les mandó Moisés, diciendo: Al fin de cada siete años,(D) en el año de la remisión, en la fiesta de los tabernáculos,(E) 11 cuando viniere todo Israel a presentarse delante de Jehová tu Dios en el lugar que él escogiere, leerás esta ley delante de todo Israel a oídos de ellos. 12 Harás congregar al pueblo, varones y mujeres y niños, y tus extranjeros que estuvieren en tus ciudades, para que oigan y aprendan, y teman a Jehová vuestro Dios, y cuiden de cumplir todas las palabras de esta ley; 13 y los hijos de ellos que no supieron, oigan, y aprendan a temer a Jehová vuestro Dios todos los días que viviereis sobre la tierra adonde vais, pasando el Jordán, para tomar posesión de ella.

14 Y Jehová dijo a Moisés: He aquí se ha acercado el día de tu muerte; llama a Josué, y esperad en el tabernáculo de reunión para que yo le dé el cargo. Fueron, pues, Moisés y Josué, y esperaron en el tabernáculo de reunión. 15 Y se apareció Jehová en el tabernáculo, en la columna de nube; y la columna de nube se puso sobre la puerta del tabernáculo.

16 Y Jehová dijo a Moisés: He aquí, tú vas a dormir con tus padres, y este pueblo se levantará y fornicará tras los dioses ajenos de la tierra adonde va para estar en medio de ella; y me dejará, e invalidará mi pacto que he concertado con él; 17 y se encenderá mi furor contra él en aquel día; y los abandonaré, y esconderé de ellos mi rostro, y serán consumidos; y vendrán sobre ellos muchos males y angustias, y dirán en aquel día: ¿No me han venido estos males porque no está mi Dios en medio de mí? 18 Pero ciertamente yo esconderé mi rostro en aquel día, por todo el mal que ellos habrán hecho, por haberse vuelto a dioses ajenos. 19 Ahora pues, escribíos este cántico, y enséñalo a los hijos de Israel; ponlo en boca de ellos, para que este cántico me sea por testigo contra los hijos de Israel. 20 Porque yo les introduciré en la tierra que juré a sus padres, la cual fluye leche y miel; y comerán y se saciarán, y engordarán; y se volverán a dioses ajenos y les servirán, y me enojarán, e invalidarán mi pacto. 21 Y cuando les vinieren muchos males y angustias, entonces este cántico responderá en su cara como testigo, pues será recordado por la boca de sus descendientes; porque yo conozco lo que se proponen de antemano, antes que los introduzca en la tierra que juré darles. 22 Y Moisés escribió este cántico aquel día, y lo enseñó a los hijos de Israel.

23 Y dio orden a Josué(F) hijo de Nun, y dijo: Esfuérzate y anímate,(G) pues tú introducirás a los hijos de Israel en la tierra que les juré, y yo estaré contigo.

Orden de guardar la ley junto al arca

24 Y cuando acabó Moisés de escribir las palabras de esta ley en un libro hasta concluirse, 25 dio órdenes Moisés a los levitas que llevaban el arca del pacto de Jehová, diciendo: 26 Tomad este libro de la ley, y ponedlo al lado del arca del pacto de Jehová vuestro Dios, y esté allí por testigo contra ti. 27 Porque yo conozco tu rebelión, y tu dura cerviz; he aquí que aun viviendo yo con vosotros hoy, sois rebeldes a Jehová; ¿cuánto más después que yo haya muerto? 28 Congregad a mí todos los ancianos de vuestras tribus, y a vuestros oficiales, y hablaré en sus oídos estas palabras, y llamaré por testigos contra ellos a los cielos y a la tierra. 29 Porque yo sé que después de mi muerte, ciertamente os corromperéis y os apartaréis del camino que os he mandado; y que os ha de venir mal en los postreros días, por haber hecho mal ante los ojos de Jehová, enojándole con la obra de vuestras manos.

Cántico de Moisés

30 Entonces habló Moisés a oídos de toda la congregación de Israel las palabras de este cántico hasta acabarlo.

31 And Moses goeth and speaketh these words unto all Israel,

and he saith unto them, `A son of a hundred and twenty years [am] I to-day; I am not able any more to go out and to come in, and Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou dost not pass over this Jordan,

`Jehovah thy God He is passing over before thee, He doth destroy these nations from before thee, and thou hast possessed them; Joshua -- he is passing over before thee as Jehovah hath spoken,

and Jehovah hath done to them as he hath done to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorite, and to their land, whom He destroyed.

And Jehovah hath given them before your face, and ye have done to them according to all the command which I have commanded you;

be strong and courageous, fear not, nor be terrified because of them, for Jehovah thy God [is] He who is going with thee; He doth not fail thee nor forsake thee.'

And Moses calleth for Joshua, and saith unto him before the eyes of all Israel, `Be strong and courageous, for thou -- thou dost go in with this people unto the land which Jehovah hath sworn to their fathers to give to them, and thou -- thou dost cause them to inherit it;

and Jehovah [is] He who is going before thee, He himself is with thee; He doth not fail thee nor forsake thee; fear not, nor be affrighted.'

And Moses writeth this law, and giveth it unto the priests (sons of Levi, those bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah), and unto all the elders of Israel,

10 and Moses commandeth them, saying, `At the end of seven years, in the appointed time, the year of release, in the feast of booths,

11 in the coming in of all Israel to see the face of Jehovah in the place which He chooseth, thou dost proclaim this law before all Israel, in their ears.

12 `Assemble the people, the men, and the women, and the infants, and thy sojourner who [is] within thy gates, so that they hear, and so that they learn, and have feared Jehovah your God, and observed to do all the words of this law;

13 and their sons, who have not known, do hear, and have learned to fear Jehovah your God all the days which ye are living on the ground whither ye are passing over the Jordan to possess it.'

14 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Lo, thy days have drawn near to die; call Joshua, and station yourselves in the tent of meeting, and I charge him;' and Moses goeth -- Joshua also -- and they station themselves in the tent of meeting,

15 and Jehovah is seen in the tent, in a pillar of a cloud; and the pillar of the cloud standeth at the opening of the tent.

16 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Lo, thou art lying down with thy fathers, and this people hath risen, and gone a-whoring after the gods of the stranger of the land into the midst of which it hath entered, and forsaken Me, and broken My covenant which I made with it;

17 and Mine anger hath burned against it in that day, and I have forsaken them, and hidden My face from them, and it hath been for consumption, and many evils and distresses have found it, and it hath said in that day, Is it not because that my God is not in my midst -- these evils have found me?

18 and I certainly hide My face in that day for all the evil which it hath done, for it hath turned unto other gods.

19 `And now, write for you this song, and teach it the sons of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song is to Me for a witness against the sons of Israel,

20 and I bring them in unto the ground which I have sworn to their fathers -- flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten, and been satisfied, and been fat, and have turned unto other gods, and they have served them, and despised Me, and broken My covenant.

21 `And it hath been, when many evils and distresses do meet it, that this song hath testified to its face for a witness; for it is not forgotten out of the mouth of its seed, for I have known its imagining which it is doing to-day, before I bring them in unto the land of which I have sworn.'

22 And Moses writeth this song on that day, and doth teach it the sons of Israel,

23 and He commandeth Joshua son of Nun, and saith, `Be strong and courageous, for thou dost bring in the sons of Israel unto the land which I have sworn to them, and I -- I am with thee.'

24 And it cometh to pass, when Moses finisheth to write the words of this law on a book till their completion,

25 that Moses commandeth the Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, saying,

26 `Take this Book of the Law, and thou hast set it on the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and it hath been there against thee for a witness;

27 for I -- I have known thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck; lo, in my being yet alive with you to-day, rebellious ye have been with Jehovah, and also surely after my death.

28 `Assemble unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your authorities, and I speak in their ears these words, and cause to testify against them the heavens and the earth,

29 for I have known that after my death ye do very corruptly, and have turned aside out of the way which I commanded you, and evil hath met you in the latter end of the days, because ye do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, to make Him angry with the work of your hands.'

30 And Moses speaketh in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, till their completion: --