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Chapter 30

Compassion for the Repentant. [a](A)When all these things, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, come upon you,(B) and you take them to heart in any of the nations where the Lord, your God, has dispersed you, (C)and return to the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, according to all that I am commanding you today, you and your children, with your whole heart and your whole being, the Lord, your God, will restore your fortunes and will have compassion on you; he will again gather you from all the peoples where the Lord, your God, has scattered you. Though you may have been dispersed to the farthest corner of the heavens, even from there will the Lord, your God, gather you; even from there will he bring you back.(D) The Lord, your God, will then bring you into the land your ancestors once possessed, that you may possess it; and he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.(E) The Lord, your God, will circumcise your hearts[b] and the hearts of your descendants,(F) so that you will love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart and your whole being, in order that you may live. The Lord, your God, will put all those curses on your enemies and the foes who pursued you.(G) You, however, shall again obey the voice of the Lord and observe all his commandments which I am giving you today. Then the Lord, your God, will generously increase your undertakings, the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil;(H) for the Lord, your God, will again take delight in your prosperity, just as he took delight in your ancestors’, 10 because you will obey the voice of the Lord, your God, keeping the commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law, when you return to the Lord, your God, with your whole heart and your whole being.

11 (I)For this command which I am giving you today is not too wondrous or remote for you. 12 It is not in the heavens, that you should say, “Who will go up to the heavens to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may do it?” 13 Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may do it?” 14 No, it is something very near to you, in your mouth[c] and in your heart, to do it.

The Choice Before Israel. 15 See, I have today set before you life and good, death and evil.(J) 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I am giving you today, loving the Lord, your God, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and ordinances, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.(K) 17 (L)If, however, your heart turns away and you do not obey, but are led astray and bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I tell you today that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land which you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:(M) I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, 20 by loving the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the Lord swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them.(N)

Footnotes

  1. 30:1–5 Text such as this suggests a postexilic perspective; cf. also chaps. 31–32.
  2. 30:6 Circumcise your hearts: see note on 10:16.
  3. 30:14 In your mouth: that is, memorized and recited; cf. 6:7; 11:19. And in your heart: internalized and appropriated; cf. 6:6; 11:18.

God’s Fidelity Assured

30 When all these things have happened to you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, if you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you. Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world,[a] from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. The Lord your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.

Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live. The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on the adversaries who took advantage of you. Then you shall again obey the Lord, observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, and the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, 10 when you obey the Lord your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Exhortation to Choose Life

11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God[b] that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 30:4 Heb of heaven
  2. Deuteronomy 30:16 Gk: Heb lacks If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God

Conditions for Restoration and Blessing

30 “I have now given you a choice between a blessing and a curse. When all these things have happened to you, and you are living among the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you, you will remember the choice I gave you. If you and your descendants will turn back to the Lord and with all your heart obey his commands that I am giving you today, then the Lord your God will have mercy on you. He will bring you back from the nations where he has scattered you, and he will make you prosperous again. Even if you are scattered to the farthest corners of the earth, the Lord your God will gather you together and bring you back, so that you may again take possession of the land where your ancestors once lived. And he will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your ancestors ever were. The Lord your God will give you and your descendants obedient hearts, so that you will love him with all your heart, and you will continue to live in that land. He will turn all these curses against your enemies, who hated you and oppressed you, and you will again obey him and keep all his commands that I am giving you today. The Lord will make you prosperous in all that you do; you will have many children and a lot of livestock, and your fields will produce abundant crops. He will be as glad to make you prosperous as he was to make your ancestors prosperous, 10 but you will have to obey him and keep all his laws that are written in this book of his teachings. You will have to turn to him with all your heart.

11 “The command that I am giving you today is not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 (A)It is not up in the sky. You do not have to ask, ‘Who will go up and bring it down for us, so that we can hear it and obey it?’ 13 Nor is it on the other side of the ocean. You do not have to ask, ‘Who will go across the ocean and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?’ 14 No, it is here with you. You know it and can quote it, so now obey it.

15 (B)“Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death. 16 If you obey the commands of the Lord your God,[a] which I give you today, if you love him, obey him, and keep all his laws, then you will prosper and become a nation of many people. The Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are about to occupy. 17 But if you disobey and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods, 18 you will be destroyed—I warn you here and now. You will not live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. 19 I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. 20 (C)Love the Lord your God, obey him and be faithful to him, and then you and your descendants will live long in the land that he promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 30:16 One ancient translation If you obey the commands of the Lord your God; Hebrew does not have these words.

Restoration Promised

30 “So it will be when all of these things have come upon you, (A)the blessing and the curse which I have placed before you, and you [a]call them to mind (B)in all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you, and you (C)return to the Lord your God and [b]obey Him (D)with all your heart and soul in accordance with everything that I am commanding you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will (E)restore [c]you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and (F)will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has (G)scattered you. If any of your scattered countrymen are at the [d]ends of the earth, (H)from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will [e]bring you back. (I)The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will be good to you and (J)make you more numerous than your fathers.

“Moreover, (K)the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your [f]descendants, (L)to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live. (M)And the Lord your God will [g]inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. And you will again [h]obey the Lord, and [i]follow all His commandments which I am commanding you today. (N)Then the Lord your God will prosper you [j]abundantly in every work of your hand, in the [k]children of your womb, the [l]offspring of your cattle, and in the [m]produce of your ground, for (O)the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; 10 [n]if you [o]obey the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which (P)are written in this Book of the Law, [p]if you turn to the Lord your God (Q)with all your heart and soul.

11 “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. 12 It is not in heaven, [q]that you could say, ‘(R)Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us, and proclaim it to us, so that we may [r]follow it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, [s]that you could say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and get it for us and proclaim it to us, so that we may [t]follow it?’ 14 On the contrary, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may [u]follow it.

Choose Life

15 “See, (S)I have placed before you today life and [v]happiness, and death and [w]adversity, 16 in that I am commanding you today (T)to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, so that you (U)may live and become numerous, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that (V)you will certainly perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter [x]and take possession of it. 19 (W)I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, (X)the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your [y]descendants, 20 (Y)by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and (Z)by holding close to Him; (AA)for [z]this is your life and the length of your days, [aa]so that you may live in (AB)the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 30:1 Lit return them to your heart
  2. Deuteronomy 30:2 Lit listen to His voice
  3. Deuteronomy 30:3 Lit your captivity
  4. Deuteronomy 30:4 Lit end of the sky
  5. Deuteronomy 30:4 Lit take you
  6. Deuteronomy 30:6 Lit seed
  7. Deuteronomy 30:7 Lit give
  8. Deuteronomy 30:8 Lit listen to the voice of
  9. Deuteronomy 30:8 Lit perform
  10. Deuteronomy 30:9 Lit for good
  11. Deuteronomy 30:9 Lit fruit
  12. Deuteronomy 30:9 Lit fruit
  13. Deuteronomy 30:9 Lit fruit
  14. Deuteronomy 30:10 Or for you will
  15. Deuteronomy 30:10 Lit listen to the voice of
  16. Deuteronomy 30:10 Or for you will
  17. Deuteronomy 30:12 Lit to say
  18. Deuteronomy 30:12 Lit perform
  19. Deuteronomy 30:13 Lit to say
  20. Deuteronomy 30:13 Lit perform
  21. Deuteronomy 30:14 Lit perform
  22. Deuteronomy 30:15 Lit good
  23. Deuteronomy 30:15 Lit evil
  24. Deuteronomy 30:18 Lit to
  25. Deuteronomy 30:19 Lit seed
  26. Deuteronomy 30:20 Lit that
  27. Deuteronomy 30:20 Lit to dwell

Prosperity After Turning to the Lord

30 When all these blessings and curses(A) I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations,(B) and when you and your children return(C) to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart(D) and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes[a](E) and have compassion(F) on you and gather(G) you again from all the nations where he scattered(H) you.(I) Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens,(J) from there the Lord your God will gather(K) you and bring you back.(L) He will bring(M) you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous(N) than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants,(O) so that you may love(P) him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. The Lord your God will put all these curses(Q) on your enemies who hate and persecute you.(R) You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.(S) The Lord will again delight(T) in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, 10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law(U) and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.(V)

The Offer of Life or Death

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.(W) 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven(X) to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”(Y) 13 Nor is it beyond the sea,(Z) so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”(AA) 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.(AB)

15 See, I set before you today life(AC) and prosperity,(AD) death(AE) and destruction.(AF) 16 For I command you today to love(AG) the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live(AH) and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.(AI) You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you(AJ) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.(AK) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love(AL) the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,(AM) and he will give(AN) you many years in the land(AO) he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 30:3 Or will bring you back from captivity