Deuteronomy 31:1-8

New International Reader's Version

Joshua Becomes the New Leader

31 Here are the words Moses spoke to all the Israelites. ² He said, “I am now 120 years old. I’m not able to lead you anymore. The Lord has said to me, ‘You will not go across the Jordan River.’ ³ The Lord your God himself will go across ahead of you. He’ll destroy the nations there in order to make room for you. You will take over their land. Joshua will also go across ahead of you, just as the Lord said he would. ⁴ The Lord will do to those nations what he did to Sihon and Og. He destroyed those Amorite kings along with their land. ⁵ The Lord will hand those nations over to you. Then you must do to them everything I’ve commanded you to do. ⁶ Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified because of them. The Lord your God will go with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you.”

⁷ Then Moses sent for Joshua. Moses spoke to him in front of all the Israelites. He said, “Be strong and brave. You must go with these people. They are going into the land the Lord promised to give to their people of long ago. You must divide it up among them. They will each receive their share. ⁸ The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope.”