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be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.
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You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit,
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because you obey the Lord your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.
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if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
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Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
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because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today—to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him—then you are to set aside three more cities.
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He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.
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and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.”
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The Altar on Mount Ebal
Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today.
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And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster.
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Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.”
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Blessings for Obedience
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.
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Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
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Curses for Disobedience
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
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All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel,
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who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today.
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Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.
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and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,
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You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today.
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The Offer of Life or Death
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
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See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.
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For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
