The Choice of Life or Death

11 “For this commandment which I command you today nis 3not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 oIt is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, pin your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

15 “See, qI have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 rI announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 sI call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that tI have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your ulife and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Joshua the New Leader of Israel

31 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them: “I aam one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer bgo out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, c‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God dHimself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. eJoshua himself crosses over before you, just fas the Lord has said. 4 gAnd the Lord will do to them has He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 iThe Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6 jBe strong and of good courage, kdo not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, lHe is the One who goes with you. mHe will not leave you nor forsake you.”

7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, n“Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, oHe is the One who goes before you. pHe will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

The Law to Be Read Every Seven Years

9 So Moses wrote this law qand delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, rwho bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the syear of release, tat the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to uappear before the Lord your God in the vplace which He chooses, wyou shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 xGather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, ywho have not known it, zmay hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”