Deuteronomy 31

1So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

2He told them, “Today I am 120 years old. I can no longer go out and come in, and Yahweh has said to me, ‘You are not to cross this Jordan.’

3It is Yahweh your God who will cross over in front of you; he will wipe out these nations from before you, and you will take their land. Joshua is the one who will cross over at your head, as Yahweh has said.

4Yahweh will treat them the way he treated Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and their land, when he wiped them out.

5Yahweh will give them over to you, and you are to deal with them in full keeping with the commandment I have given you.

6Be strong and courageous. Have no fear of them and do not shrink back before them, for it is Yahweh your God who goes along with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”

7Moses called Joshua and, with all Israel watching, told him, “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land Yahweh swore to their ancestors he would give them, and you will give it to them as their inheritance.

8It is Yahweh who goes ahead of you, and he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear, and do not lose heart.”

9Moses wrote out this law and entrusted it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.

10Then Moses commanded them, “At the close of every seven years, at the set time of the release year, during the Festival of Booths,

11when all Israel comes to present themselves before Yahweh your God in the place he will choose, read this law out loud in front of all Israel so they hear it.

12Gather the people together, the men, the women, the little ones, and the foreigner within your gates, so that they will hear and learn, and fear Yahweh your God, and take care to do everything this law says.

13Then their children, who have not known it, will hear and learn to fear Yahweh your God for all the days you live on the land you are crossing the Jordan to take over.”

14Yahweh said to Moses, “The day of your death is drawing near. Summon Joshua, and the two of you take your stand at the tent of meeting, and I will give him his charge.” So Moses and Joshua went and took their stand at the tent of meeting.

15Yahweh showed himself at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the doorway of the tent.

16Yahweh said to Moses, “You are soon to lie down with your ancestors. Then this people will rise up and play the prostitute after the foreign gods in their midst in the land they are going into. They will abandon me and break the covenant I have made with them.

17On that day my anger will blaze against them; I will abandon them and hide my face from them, and they will be consumed. Many disasters and troubles will overtake them, and on that day they will say, ‘Is it not because our God is not in our midst that these disasters have overtaken us?’

18I will certainly keep my face hidden on that day, because of all the evil they have done in turning to other gods.

19So now write this song down for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; put it on their lips, so that this song will serve as my witness against the Israelites.

20For I will bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey that I swore to their ancestors, and they will eat until they are full and grow fat; then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and they will spurn me and break my covenant.

21When many disasters and troubles overtake them, this song will speak up before them as a witness, because it will not be forgotten on the lips of their descendants. I know the inclination they are already acting on today, before I bring them into the land I swore to give.”

22That same day Moses wrote out this song and taught it to the Israelites.

23Yahweh gave Joshua son of Nun his charge and said, “Be strong and courageous, because you are the one who will lead the Israelites into the land I swore to them, and I myself will be with you.”

24After Moses had finished writing out the words of this law in a book, down to the last word,

25Moses gave this order to the Levites who carried the ark of Yahweh’s covenant:

26“Take this book of the law and place it at the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God. It will remain there as a witness against you.

27I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Even now, while I am still alive among you, you have been defying Yahweh—how much more after I die!

28Gather to me all your tribal elders and your officials, so that I can speak these words for them to hear and call on the heavens and the earth to testify against them.

29I know that after I am dead you will become thoroughly corrupt and leave the path I commanded you. Disaster will find you in the latter days, because you will do what is evil in Yahweh’s sight and provoke him to anger with what your hands have made.”

30Then, with the whole assembly of Israel listening, Moses spoke the words of this song all the way through: