Beginning
32 Heavens, listen to me. Then I will speak.
Earth, hear the words of my mouth.
2 Let my teaching fall like rain.
Let my words come down like dew.
Let them be like raindrops on new grass.
Let them be like rain on tender plants.
3 I will make known the name of the Lord.
Praise God! How great he is!
4 He is the Rock. His works are perfect.
All his ways are right.
He is faithful. He doesn’t do anything wrong.
He is honest and fair.
5 Israel, you have sinned against him very much.
It’s too bad for you that you aren’t his children anymore.
You have become a twisted and evil nation.
6 Is that how you thank the Lord?
You aren’t wise. You are foolish.
Remember, he’s your Father. He’s your Creator.
He made you. He formed you.
7 Remember the days of long ago.
Think about what the Lord did through those many years.
Ask your father. He will tell you.
Ask your elders. They’ll explain it to you.
8 The Most High God gave the nations their lands.
He divided up the human race.
He set up borders for the nations.
He did it based on the number of the angels in his heavenly court.
9 The Lord’s people are his share.
Jacob is the nation he has received.
10 The Lord found Israel in a desert.
He found them in an empty and windy land.
He took care of them and kept them safe.
He guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
11 He was like an eagle that stirs up its nest.
It hovers over its little ones.
It spreads out its wings to catch them.
It carries them up in the air on its feathers.
12 The Lord was the only one who led Israel.
No other god was with them.
13 The Lord made them ride on the highest places in the land.
He fed them what grew in the fields.
He gave them the sweetest honey.
He fed them olive oil from a rocky hillside.
14 He gave them butter and milk from the herds and flocks.
He fed them the fattest lambs and goats.
He gave them the best of Bashan’s rams.
He fed them the finest wheat.
They drank the bubbling red juice of grapes.
15 When Israel grew fat, they became stubborn.
When they were filled with food, they became fat and heavy.
They left the God who made them.
They turned away from the Rock who saved them.
16 They made him jealous by serving false gods.
They made him angry by worshiping statues of gods.
He hated those gods.
17 The people sacrificed to those false gods, not to God.
They hadn’t known anything about those false gods.
Those gods were new to them.
Their people of long ago didn’t worship them.
18 But then they deserted the Rock. He was their Father.
They forgot the God who created them.
19 When the Lord saw this, he turned away from them.
His sons and daughters made him angry.
20 “I will turn my face away from them,” he said.
“I will see what will happen to them in the end.
They are sinful people.
They are unfaithful children.
21 They made me jealous by serving what is not even a god.
They made me angry by worshiping worthless statues of gods.
I will use people who are not a nation to make them jealous.
A nation that has no understanding will make them angry.
22 My anger will start a fire.
It will burn all the way down to the kingdom of the dead.
It will eat up the earth and its crops.
It will set the base of the mountains on fire.
23 “I will pile troubles on my people.
I will shoot all my arrows at them.
24 I will send them hunger. It will make them weak.
I will send terrible sickness. I will send deadly plagues.
I will send wild animals that will tear them apart.
Snakes that glide through the dust will bite them.
25 In the streets their children will be killed by swords.
Their homes will be filled with terror.
The young men and women will die.
The babies and old people will die.
26 I said I would scatter them.
I said I would erase their name from human memory.
27 But I was afraid their enemies would make fun of that.
I was afraid their attackers would not understand.
I was sure they would say, ‘We’re the ones who’ve beaten them!
The Lord isn’t the one who did it.’ ”
28 Israel is a nation that doesn’t have any sense.
They can’t understand anything.
29 I wish they were wise. Then they would understand what’s coming.
They’d realize what would happen to them in the end.
30 How could one person chase a thousand?
How could two make ten thousand run away?
It couldn’t happen unless their Rock had deserted them.
It couldn’t take place unless the Lord had given them up.
31 Their rock is not like our Rock.
Even our enemies know that.
32 Their vine comes from the vines of Sodom.
It comes from the vineyards of Gomorrah.
Their grapes are filled with poison.
Their bunches of grapes taste bitter.
33 Their wine is like the poison of snakes.
It’s like the deadly poison of cobras.
34 The Lord says, “I have kept all those terrible things stored away.
I have kept them sealed up in my strongbox.
35 I punish people. I will pay them back.
The time will come when their feet will slip.
Their day of trouble is near.
Very soon they will be destroyed.”
36 The Lord will come to the aid of his people.
He’ll show tender love to those who serve him.
He will know when their strength is gone.
He’ll see that no one at all is left.
37 He’ll say, “Where are their gods now?
Where is the rock they went to for safety?
38 Where are the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices?
Where are the gods who drank the wine of their drink offerings?
Let those gods rise up to help you!
Let them keep you safe!
39 “Look! I am the One!
There is no other God except me.
I put some people to death. I bring others to life.
I have wounded, and I will heal.
No one can save you from my power.
40 I raise my hand to heaven. Here is the promise I make.
You can be sure that I live forever.
41 And you can be just as sure
that I will sharpen my flashing sword.
My hand will hold it when I judge.
I will get even with my enemies.
I will pay back those who hate me.
42 I will make my arrows drip with blood.
My sword will destroy people.
It will kill some. It will even kill prisoners.
It will cut off the heads of enemy leaders.”
43 You nations, be full of joy. Be joyful together with God’s people.
The Lord will get even with his enemies.
He will pay them back for killing those who serve him.
He will wipe away the sin of his land and people.
44 Moses spoke all the words of this song to the people. Joshua, the son of Nun, was with him. 45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all the Israelites. 46 Then he said to them, “Think carefully about all the words I have announced to you today. I want you to command your children to be careful to obey all the words of this law. 47 They aren’t just useless words for you. They are your very life. If you obey them, you will live in the land for a long time. It’s the land you are going across the Jordan River to take as your own.”
Moses Will Die on Mount Nebo
48 On that same day the Lord said to Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim mountains. Go to Mount Nebo in Moab. It is across from Jericho. From there look out over Canaan. It is the land I am giving the Israelites to take as their own. 50 You will die there on the mountain you have climbed. You will join the members of your family who have already died. In the same way, your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor. He joined the members of his family who had already died. 51 You and Aaron disobeyed me in front of the Israelites. It happened at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin. You did not honor me among the Israelites as the holy God. 52 So you will see the land, but only from far away. You will not enter the land I am giving to the Israelites.”
Moses Blesses the Tribes
33 Here is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the Israelites before he died. 2 He said,
“The Lord came from Mount Sinai.
Like the rising sun, he shone on his people from Mount Seir.
He shone on them from Mount Paran.
He came with large numbers of angels.
He came from his mountain slopes in the south.
3 Lord, I’m sure you love your people.
All the holy ones are in your hands.
At your feet all of them bow down.
And you teach them.
4 They learn the law Moses gave us.
It belongs to the community of the people of Jacob.
5 The Lord was king over Israel
when the leaders of the people came together.
The tribes of Israel were also there.”
6 Here’s what Moses said about Reuben.
“Let Reuben live. Don’t let him die.
And do not let his people be few.”
7 Here’s what Moses said about Judah.
“Lord, listen to Judah cry out.
Bring him to his people.
By his own power he stands up for himself.
Lord, help him fight against his enemies!”
8 Here’s what Moses said about Levi.
“Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant.
You tested him at Massah.
You argued with him at the waters of Meribah.
9 Levi didn’t show special favor to anyone.
He did not spare his father and mother.
He didn’t excuse his relatives or his children.
But he watched over your word.
He guarded your covenant.
10 He teaches your rules to the people of Jacob.
He teaches your law to Israel.
He offers incense to you.
He sacrifices whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 Lord, bless all his skills.
Be pleased with everything he does.
Destroy those who rise up against him.
Strike down his enemies until they can’t get up.”
12 Here’s what Moses said about Benjamin.
“Let the one the Lord loves rest safely in him.
The Lord guards him all day long.
The one the Lord loves rests in his arms.”
13 Here’s what Moses said about Joseph.
“May the Lord bless Joseph’s land.
May he bless it with dew from the highest heavens.
May he bless it with water from the deepest oceans.
14 May he bless it with the best crops the sun can produce.
May he bless it with the finest crops the moon can give.
15 May he bless it with the best products of the age-old mountains.
May he bless it with the many crops of the ancient hills.
16 May he bless it with the best gifts that fill the earth.
May he bless it with the favor of the God who spoke out of the burning bush.
Let all these blessings rest on the head of Joseph.
Let them rest on the head of the one who is prince among his brothers.
17 His glory is like the glory of a bull born first to its mother.
His horns are like the horns of a wild ox.
He will use them to destroy the nations.
He’ll wipe out the nations that are very far away.
The ten thousands of men in Ephraim’s army are like the bull and the ox.
So are the thousands in the army of Manasseh.”
18 Here’s what Moses said about Zebulun and Issachar.
“Zebulun, be filled with joy when you go out.
Issachar, be joyful in your tents.
19 You will call for other people to go to the mountain.
There you will offer the sacrifices of those who do what is right.
You will enjoy the many good things your ships bring you.
You will enjoy treasures that are hidden in the sand.”
20 Here’s what Moses said about Gad.
“May the God who gives Gad more land be praised!
Gad lives there like a lion
that tears off arms and heads.
21 He chose the best land for his livestock.
The leader’s share was kept for him.
The leaders of the people came together.
Then Gad carried out the Lord’s holy plan.
He carried out the Lord’s decisions for Israel.”
22 Here’s what Moses said about Dan.
“Dan is like a lion’s cub
that charges out of the land of Bashan.”
23 Here’s what Moses said about Naphtali.
“The Lord greatly favors Naphtali.
The Lord fills him with his blessing.
Naphtali’s land will reach south to the Sea of Galilee.”
24 Here’s what Moses said about Asher.
“Asher is the most blessed of sons.
Let his brothers be kind to him.
Let Asher wash his feet with olive oil.
25 The bars of his gates will be made out of iron and bronze.
His strength will last as long as he lives.
26 “There is no one like the God of Israel.
He rides across the heavens to help you.
He rides on the clouds in his glory.
27 God lives forever! You can run to him for safety.
His powerful arms are always there to carry you.
He will drive out your enemies to make room for you.
He’ll say to you, ‘Destroy them!’
28 So Israel will live in safety.
Jacob will live secure
in a land that has grain and fresh wine.
There the heavens drop their dew.
29 Israel, how blessed you are!
Who is like you?
The Lord has saved you.
He keeps you safe. He helps you.
He’s like a glorious sword to you.
Your enemies will bow down to you in fear.
You will walk on the highest places of their lands.”
Moses Dies
34 Moses climbed Mount Nebo. He went up from the plains of Moab to the highest slopes of Pisgah. It’s across from Jericho. At Pisgah the Lord showed him the whole land from Gilead all the way to Dan. 2 Moses saw the whole land of Naphtali. He saw the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh. The Lord showed him the whole land of Judah all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. 3 Moses saw the Negev Desert. He saw the whole area from the Valley of Jericho all the way to Zoar. Jericho was also known as The City of Palm Trees. 4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your children and their children.’ Moses, I have let you see it with your own eyes. But you will not go across the Jordan River to enter it.”
5 Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in Moab. It happened just as the Lord had said. 6 The Lord buried the body of Moses in Moab. His grave is in the valley across from Beth Peor. But to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. But his eyesight was still good. He was still very strong. 8 The Israelites mourned over Moses on the plains of Moab for 30 days. They did it until their time for weeping and crying was over.
9 Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with wisdom. That’s because Moses had placed his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to Joshua. They did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
10 Since then, Israel has never had a prophet like Moses. The Lord knew him face to face. 11 Moses did many signs and amazing things. The Lord had sent him to do them in Egypt. Moses did them against Pharaoh, against all his officials and against his whole land. 12 No one has ever had the mighty power Moses had. No one has ever done the wonderful acts he did in the sight of all the Israelites.
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