Deuteronomy 32:28-52

Christian Standard Bible

²⁸ Israel is a nation lacking sense
with no understanding at all.^(A)
29 If only they were wise, they would comprehend this;
they would understand their fate.
³⁰ How could one pursue a thousand,
or two put ten thousand to flight,^(B)
unless their Rock had sold them,
unless the Lord had given them up?^(C)
31 But their “rock” is not like our Rock,
as even our enemies concede.
³² For their vine is from the vine of Sodom
and from the fields of Gomorrah.
Their grapes are poisonous;
their clusters are bitter.
³³ Their wine is serpents’ venom,
the deadly poison of cobras.^(D)

³⁴ “Is it not stored up with me,
sealed up in my vaults?
³⁵ Vengeance and retribution belong to me.^[a](E)
In time their foot will slip,
for their day of disaster is near,
and their doom is coming quickly.”
³⁶ The Lord will indeed vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants^(F)
when he sees that their strength is gone
and no one is left—slave or free.^[b]
37 He will say, “Where are their gods,
the ‘rock’ they found refuge in?
³⁸ Who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offerings?
Let them rise up and help you;
let it^[c] be a shelter for you.
³⁹ See now that I alone am he;
there is no God but me.^(G)
I bring death and I give life;
I wound and I heal.
No one can rescue anyone from my power.^(H)
40 I raise my hand to heaven and declare:
As surely as I live forever,
⁴¹ when I sharpen my flashing sword,
and my hand takes hold of judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries
and repay those who hate me.
⁴² I will make my arrows drunk with blood
while my sword devours flesh—
the blood of the slain and the captives,
the heads of the enemy leaders.”^[d]

⁴³ Rejoice, you nations, concerning his people,^[e](I)
for he will avenge the blood of his servants.^[f]
He will take vengeance on his adversaries;^[g](J)
he will purify his land and his people.^[h]