Public Reading of the Law

So Moses wrote(A) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried(B) the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts,(C) during the Festival of Tabernacles,(D) 11 when all Israel comes to appear(E) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,(F) you shall read this law(G) before them in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn(H) to fear(I) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children,(J) who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Read full chapter

Moses Entrusts the Law to the Levitical Priests

Then Moses wrote down this Law and gave it to the Levitical priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and to all of Israel’s leaders.[a] 10 Then he[b] gave these[c] orders: “At the end of seven years, the year designated for release,[d] during the Festival of Tents,[e] 11 when all of Israel comes to appear in the presence of the Lord your God at the place that he’ll choose, read this Law aloud to them.[f] 12 Gather the people—the men, women, children, and the foreigners that live in your cities—so they may hear and fear the Lord your God, and so they may be careful to obey the words contained in this Law. 13 Their children who don’t know will hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 31:9 Lit. elders
  2. Deuteronomy 31:10 Lit. Moses
  3. Deuteronomy 31:10 The Heb. lacks these
  4. Deuteronomy 31:10 Or remission
  5. Deuteronomy 31:10 Or Tents
  6. Deuteronomy 31:11 Lit. to all Israel