Author: Powered by Bible Gateway

The Death of Moses

34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo^(A) from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,^(B) across from Jericho.^(C) There the Lord showed^(D) him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan,^{(E) 2} all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea,^{(F) 3} the Negev^(G) and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,^(H) as far as Zoar.^{(I) 4} Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath^(J) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(K) when I said, ‘I will give it^(L) to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross^(M) over into it.”

⁵ And Moses the servant of the Lord^(N) died^(O) there in Moab, as the Lord had said. ⁶ He buried him^[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor,^(P) but to this day no one knows where his grave is.^{(Q) 7} Moses was a hundred and twenty years old^(R) when he died, yet his eyes were not weak^(S) nor his strength gone.^{(T) 8} The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab^(U) thirty days,^(V) until the time of weeping and mourning^(W) was over.

⁹ Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[b] of wisdom^(X) because Moses had laid his hands on him.^(Y) So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ Since then, no prophet^(Z) has risen in Israel like Moses,^(AA) whom the Lord knew face to face,^{(AB) 11} who did all those signs and wonders^(AC) the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials^(AD) and to his whole land. ¹² For no one has^(AE) ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds^(AF) that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Joshua Installed as Leader

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,^(AG) the Lord said to Joshua^(AH) son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River^(AI) into the land^(AJ) I am about to give to them^(AK)—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot,^(AL) as I promised Moses.^{(AM) 4} Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon,^(AN) and from the great river, the Euphrates^(AO)—all the Hittite^(AP) country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.^{(AQ) 5} No one will be able to stand against you^(AR) all the days of your life. As I was with^(AS) Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake^(AT) you. ⁶ Be strong^(AU) and courageous,^(AV) because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors^(AW) to give them.

⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey^(AX) all the law^(AY) my servant Moses^(AZ) gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,^(BA) that you may be successful wherever you go.^{(BB) 8} Keep this Book of the Law^(BC) always on your lips;^(BD) meditate^(BE) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.^{(BF) 9} Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;^(BG) do not be discouraged,^(BH) for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”^(BI)

¹⁰ So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:^{(BJ) 11} “Go through the camp^(BK) and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions^(BL) ready. Three days^(BM) from now you will cross the Jordan^(BN) here to go in and take possession^(BO) of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”

¹² But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,^(BP) Joshua said, ¹³ “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest^(BQ) by giving you this land.’ ¹⁴ Your wives,^(BR) your children and your livestock may stay in the land^(BS) that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle,^(BT) must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.^(BU) You are to help them ¹⁵ until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”^(BV)

¹⁶ Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.^{(BW) 17} Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.^(BX) Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey^(BY) it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!^(BZ)”

Rahab and the Spies

2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies^(CA) from Shittim.^(CB) “Go, look over^(CC) the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.^(CD)” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab^(CE) and stayed there.

² The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” ³ So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab:^(CF) “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

⁴ But the woman had taken the two men^(CG) and hidden them.^(CH) She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. ⁵ At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate,^(CI) they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”^{(CJ) 6} (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax^(CK) she had laid out on the roof.)^{(CL) 7} So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan,^(CM) and as soon as the pursuers^(CN) had gone out, the gate was shut.

⁸ Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof^{(CO) 9} and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear^(CP) of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰ We have heard how the Lord dried up^(CQ) the water of the Red Sea^[c] for you when you came out of Egypt,^(CR) and what you did to Sihon and Og,^(CS) the two kings of the Amorites^(CT) east of the Jordan,^(CU) whom you completely destroyed.^{[d](CV) 11} When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear^(CW) and everyone’s courage failed^(CX) because of you,^(CY) for the Lord your God^(CZ) is God in heaven above and on the earth^(DA) below.

¹² “Now then, please swear to me^(DB) by the Lord that you will show kindness^(DC) to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign^{(DD) 13} that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them^(DE)—and that you will save us from death.”

¹⁴ “Our lives for your lives!”^(DF) the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully^(DG) when the Lord gives us the land.”

¹⁵ So she let them down by a rope^(DH) through the window,^(DI) for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. ¹⁶ She said to them, “Go to the hills^(DJ) so the pursuers^(DK) will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days^(DL) until they return, and then go on your way.”^(DM)

¹⁷ Now the men had said to her, “This oath^(DN) you made us swear will not be binding on us ¹⁸ unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord^(DO) in the window^(DP) through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family^(DQ) into your house. ¹⁹ If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads;^(DR) we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head^(DS) if a hand is laid on them. ²⁰ But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.^(DT)”

²¹ “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”

So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord^(DU) in the window.^(DV)

²² When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days,^(DW) until the pursuers^(DX) had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. ²³ Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. ²⁴ They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands;^(DY) all the people are melting in fear^(DZ) because of us.”

The Narrow Door

²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.^{(A) 23} Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,^(B) because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. ²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’^(C)

²⁶ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

²⁷ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’^(D)

²⁸ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth,^(E) when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. ²⁹ People will come from east and west^(F) and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”^(G)

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem^(H)(I)

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod^(J) wants to kill you.”

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’^{(K) 33} In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet^(L) can die outside Jerusalem!

³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(M) and you were not willing. ³⁵ Look, your house is left to you desolate.^(N) I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’^[a]”^(O)

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House^(P)

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee,^(Q) he was being carefully watched.^{(R) 2} There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. ³ Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law,^(S) “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”^{(T) 4} But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

⁵ Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child^[b] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”^{(U) 6} And they had nothing to say.

Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

Moses Blesses the Tribes^(A)

33 This is the blessing^(B) that Moses the man of God^(C) pronounced on the Israelites before his death. ² He said:

⁷ And this he said about Judah:^(Q)

⁸ About Levi^(R) he said:

¹² About Benjamin^(AD) he said:

¹³ About Joseph^(AI) he said:

¹⁸ About Zebulun^(AS) he said:

²⁰ About Gad^(AX) he said:

²² About Dan^(BC) he said:

²³ About Naphtali^(BD) he said:

²⁴ About Asher^(BE) he said:

Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate^(A) had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?^{(B) 3} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam^(C) fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent,^(D) you too will all perish.”

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.^{(E) 7} So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(F) Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,^{(G) 11} and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.^(H) She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her,^(I) and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath,^(J) the synagogue leader^(K) said to the people, “There are six days for work.^(L) So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?^{(M) 16} Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham,^(N) whom Satan^(O) has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated,^(P) but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(Q)(R)

¹⁸ Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God^(S) like?^(T) What shall I compare it to? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree,^(U) and the birds perched in its branches.”^(V)

²⁰ Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”^(W)

⁴⁴ Moses came with Joshua^[d](AO) son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. ⁴⁵ When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, ⁴⁶ he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day,^(AP) so that you may command^(AQ) your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. ⁴⁷ They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.^(AR) By them you will live long^(AS) in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Moses to Die on Mount Nebo

⁴⁸ On that same day the Lord told Moses,^{(AT) 49} “Go up into the Abarim^(AU) Range to Mount Nebo^(AV) in Moab, across from Jericho,^(AW) and view Canaan,^(AX) the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. ⁵⁰ There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die^(AY) and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died^(AZ) on Mount Hor^(BA) and was gathered to his people. ⁵¹ This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh^(BB) in the Desert of Zin^(BC) and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.^{(BD) 52} Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance;^(BE) you will not enter^(BF) the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Watchfulness^(A)(B)

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.^(C) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.^{(D) 38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief^(E) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready,^(F) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

⁴¹ Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord^(G) answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.^(H) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.^{(I) 48} But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.^(J) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Not Peace but Division^(K)

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism^(L) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!^{(M) 51} Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”^(N)

Interpreting the Times

⁵⁴ He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.^{(O) 55} And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?^(P)

⁵⁷ “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.^{(Q) 59} I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”^(R)

Joshua to Succeed Moses

31 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: ² “I am now a hundred and twenty years old^(A) and I am no longer able to lead you.^(B) The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’^{(C) 3} The Lord your God himself will cross^(D) over ahead of you.^(E) He will destroy these nations^(F) before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross^(G) over ahead of you, as the Lord said. ⁴ And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og,^(H) the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. ⁵ The Lord will deliver^(I) them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous.^(J) Do not be afraid or terrified^(K) because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;^(L) he will never leave you^(M) nor forsake^(N) you.”

⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said^(O) to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them,^(P) and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;^(Q) he will never leave you nor forsake you.^(R) Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Public Reading of the Law

⁹ So Moses wrote^(S) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried^(T) 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,^(U) during the Festival of Tabernacles,^{(V) 11} when all Israel comes to appear^(W) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,^(X) you shall read this law^(Y) 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^(Z) to fear^(AA) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. ¹³ Their children,^(AB) 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.”

Israel’s Rebellion Predicted

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Now the day of your death^(AC) is near. Call Joshua^(AD) and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.^(AE)” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.^(AF)

¹⁵ Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.^{(AG) 16} And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors,^(AH) and these people will soon prostitute^(AI) themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake^(AJ) me and break the covenant I made with them. ¹⁷ And in that day I will become angry^(AK) with them and forsake^(AL) them; I will hide^(AM) my face^(AN) from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters^(AO) and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’^{(AP) 18} And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

¹⁹ “Now write^(AQ) down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness^(AR) for me against them. ²⁰ When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,^(AS) and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods^(AT) and worship them,^(AU) rejecting me and breaking my covenant.^{(AV) 21} And when many disasters and calamities come on them,^(AW) this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do,^(AX) even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” ²² So Moses wrote^(AY) down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

²³ The Lord gave this command^(AZ) to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous,^(BA) for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”

²⁴ After Moses finished writing^(BB) in a book the words of this law^(BC) from beginning to end, ²⁵ he gave this command to the Levites who carried^(BD) the ark of the covenant of the Lord: ²⁶ “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.^{(BE) 27} For I know how rebellious^(BF) and stiff-necked^(BG) you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! ²⁸ Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them.^{(BH) 29} For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt^(BI) and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster^(BJ) will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

The Song of Moses

³⁰ And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

⁸ “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.^{(A) 9} But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned^(B) before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man^(C) will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.^(D)

¹¹ “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,^{(E) 12} for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”^(F)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”^(G)

¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(H) This very night your life will be demanded from you.^(I) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’^(J)

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”^(K)

Do Not Worry^(L)

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.^(M) And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[a]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor^(N) was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!^{(O) 29} And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father^(P) knows that you need them.^{(Q) 31} But seek his kingdom,^(R) and these things will be given to you as well.^(S)

³² “Do not be afraid,^(T) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.^{(U) 33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor.^(V) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven^(W) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.^{(X) 34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(Y)

Renewing the Covenant

29 These are the words of the covenant^(A) the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.^{(B) 2} Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen with your own eyes^(C) everything the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his entire land. ³ You saw with your own eyes the great trials and those great signs and wonders.^{(D) 4} Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.^{(E) 5} I led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes and the sandals on your feet did not wear out;^{(F) 6} you did not eat food or drink wine or beer—so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.^{(G) 7} When you reached this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out against us in battle, but we defeated them.^{(H) 8} We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.^{(I) 9} Therefore, observe the words of this covenant^(J) and follow them, so that you will succeed in everything you do.^(K)

¹⁰ “All of you are standing today before the Lord your God—your leaders, tribes, elders, officials, all the men of Israel, ¹¹ your dependents, your wives, and the resident aliens in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water— ¹² so that you may enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which he is making with you today, so that you may enter into his oath ¹³ and so that he may establish you today as his people and he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.^{(L) 14} I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, ¹⁵ but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God and with those who are not here today.

Abandoning the Covenant

¹⁶ “Indeed, you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and passed through the nations where you traveled. ¹⁷ You saw their abhorrent images and idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them.^{(M) 18} Be sure there is no man, 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. Be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.^{(N) 19} When someone hears the words of this oath, he may consider himself exempt,^[a] thinking, ‘I will have peace even though I follow my own stubborn heart.’ This will lead to the destruction of the well-watered land as well as the dry land. ²⁰ The Lord will not be willing to forgive him. Instead, his anger and jealousy will burn against that person, and every curse written in this scroll will descend on him. The Lord will blot out his name under heaven,^{(O) 21} and single him out for harm from all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the law.

²² “Future generations of your children who follow you and the foreigner who comes from a distant country will see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses the Lord has inflicted on it. ²³ All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown, producing nothing, with no plant growing on it, just like the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord demolished in his fierce anger.^{(P) 24} All the nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this intense outburst of anger?’ ²⁵ Then people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their fathers, which he had made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. ²⁶ They began to serve other gods, bowing in worship to gods they had not known^(Q)—gods that the Lord had not permitted them to worship.^{(R) 27} Therefore the Lord’s anger burned against this land, and he brought every curse written in this book on it. ²⁸ The Lord uprooted them from their land in his anger, rage, and intense wrath, and threw them into another land where they are today.’ ²⁹ The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Returning to the Lord

30 “When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you,^{(S) 2} and you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and all your soul^(T) by doing^[b] everything I am commanding you today, ³ then he will restore your fortunes,^[c](U) have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.^{(V) 4} Even if your exiles are at the farthest horizon,^[d] he will gather you and bring you back from there.^{(W) 5} The Lord your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it.^(X) He will cause you to prosper and multiply you more than he did your fathers.^{(Y) 6} The Lord your God will circumcise your heart^(Z) and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.^{(AA) 7} The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. ⁸ Then you will again obey him and follow all his commands I am commanding you today. ⁹ The Lord your God will make you prosper abundantly in all the work of your hands,^(AB) your offspring,^[e] the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land. Indeed, the Lord will again delight in your prosperity, as he delighted in that of your fathers, ¹⁰ when you obey the Lord your God by keeping his commands and statutes that are written in this book of the law and return to him with all your heart and all your soul.

Choose Life

¹¹ “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ ¹³ And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ ¹⁴ But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it.^{(AC) 15} See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.^{(AD) 16} For^[f] I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live^[g] and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess. ¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow in worship to other gods and serve them, ¹⁸ I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan. ¹⁹ I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life^(AE) so that you and your descendants may live, ²⁰ love the Lord your God, obey him, and remain faithful^[h] to him. For he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you live in the land the Lord swore to give to your fathers^(AF) Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Religious Hypocrisy Denounced

³⁷ As he was speaking, a Pharisee^(A) asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing^[a](B) before dinner.^{(C) 39} But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed^(D) and evil.^{(E) 40} Fools!^(F) Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? ⁴¹ But give from what is within to the poor,^[b](G) and then everything is clean^(H) for you.

⁴² “But woe^(I) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth^[c](J) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass^[d] justice^(K) and love for God.^[e](L) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

⁴³ “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat^(M) in the synagogues^(N) and greetings in the marketplaces.

⁴⁴ “Woe to you!^[f] You are like unmarked graves; ^(O) the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law^(P) answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”

⁴⁶ Then he said: “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens^(Q) that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.^(R)

⁴⁷ “Woe to you! You build tombs^[g] for the prophets,^(S) and your fathers killed^(T) them. ⁴⁸ Therefore, you are witnesses^(U) that you approve^[h](V) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.^{[i] 49} Because of this, the wisdom of God^(W) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles,^(X) and some of them they will kill and persecute,’^{(Y) 50} so that this generation^(Z) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world^[j](AA) — ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel^(AB) to the blood of Zechariah,^(AC) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.^[k]

⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge.^(AD) You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered^(AE) those who were trying to go in.”

⁵³ When he left there,^[l] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose^(AF) him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things; ⁵⁴ they were lying in wait^(AG) for him to trap him in something he said.^[m](AH)

Beware of Religious Hypocrisy

12 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling^(AI) on one another. He began to say to his disciples first,^(AJ) “Be on your guard^(AK) against the leaven^[n](AL) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.^{(AM) 2} There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,^(AN) nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(AO) 3} Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms^(AP) will be proclaimed on the housetops.^(AQ)

Fear God

⁴ “I say to you, my friends,^(AR) don’t fear^(AS) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. ⁵ But I will show you the one to fear: Fear^(AT) him who has authority to throw people into hell^(AU) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! ⁶ Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[o] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.^{(AV) 7} Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Psalm 78

Lessons from Israel’s Past

A Maskil of Asaph.^(A)

Blessings for Obedience

28 “Now^(A) if you faithfully obey the Lord your God^(B) and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today,^(C) the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth.^{(D) 2} All these blessings will come and overtake^(E) you, because you obey the Lord your God:

⁷ “The Lord will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you. They will march out against you from one direction but flee from you in seven directions. ⁸ The Lord will grant you a blessing on your barns and on everything you do;^[b](I) he will bless you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.^{(J) 9} The Lord will establish you as his holy people,^(K) as he swore to you, if you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. ¹⁰ Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you bear the Lord’s name,^(L) and they will stand in awe of you.^{(M) 11} The Lord will make you prosper abundantly with offspring,^[c] the offspring of your livestock, and your land’s produce in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. ¹² The Lord will open for you his abundant storehouse,^(N) the sky, to give your land rain in its season and to bless all the work of your hands.^(O) You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. ¹³ The Lord will make you the head and not the tail;^(P) you will only move upward and never downward if you listen to the Lord your God’s commands I am giving you today and are careful to follow them. ¹⁴ Do not turn aside to the right or the left from all the things I am commanding you today,^(Q) and do not follow other gods to worship them.

Curses for Disobedience

¹⁵ “But if you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all his commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake^(R) you:^(S)

²⁰ The Lord will send against you curses, confusion,^(T) and rebuke in everything you do until you are destroyed and quickly perish,^(U) because of the wickedness of your actions in abandoning me.^{(V) 21} The Lord will make pestilence cling to you until he has exterminated you from the land you are entering to possess.^{(W) 22} The Lord will afflict you with wasting disease, fever, inflammation, burning heat, drought,^[d] blight, and mildew;^(X) these will pursue you until you perish. ²³ The sky above you will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron. ²⁴ The Lord will turn the rain of your land into falling^[e] dust; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed. ²⁵ The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them from one direction but flee from them in seven directions.^(Y) You will be an object of horror^(Z) to all the kingdoms of the earth. ²⁶ Your corpses will be food for all the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, with no one to scare them away.^(AA)

²⁷ “The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt,^(AB) tumors, a festering rash, and scabies, from which you cannot be cured. ²⁸ The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness, and mental confusion,^{(AC) 29} so that at noon you will grope as a blind person gropes in the dark.^(AD) You will not be successful in anything you do. You will only be oppressed and robbed continually, and no one will help you.^{(AE) 30} You will become engaged to a woman, but another man will rape her. You will build a house but not live in it.^(AF) You will plant a vineyard but not enjoy its fruit. ³¹ Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be taken away from you and not returned to you. Your flock will be given to your enemies, and no one will help you. ³² Your sons and daughters will be given to another people, while your eyes grow weary looking for them every day. But you will be powerless to do anything.^{[f](AG) 33} A people you don’t know will eat your land’s produce and everything you have labored for. You will only be oppressed and crushed continually.^{(AH) 34} You will be driven mad by what you see. ³⁵ The Lord will afflict you with painful and incurable boils on your knees and thighs—from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.^(AI)

³⁶ “The Lord will bring you and your king that you have appointed to a nation neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will worship other gods, of wood and stone.^{(AJ) 37} You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you.^(AK)

³⁸ “You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because locusts will devour it. ³⁹ You will plant and cultivate vineyards but not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them. ⁴⁰ You will have olive trees throughout your territory but not moisten your skin with oil, because your olives will drop off. ⁴¹ You will father sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, because they will be taken prisoner. ⁴² Buzzing insects will take possession of all your trees and your land’s produce. ⁴³ The resident alien among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink lower and lower. ⁴⁴ He will lend to you, but you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

⁴⁵ “All these curses will come, pursue, and overtake you until you are destroyed, since you did not obey the Lord your God and keep the commands and statutes he gave you. ⁴⁶ These curses will be a sign and a wonder^(AL) against you and your descendants forever. ⁴⁷ Because you didn’t serve the Lord your God with joy and a cheerful heart,^(AM) even though you had an abundance of everything, ⁴⁸ you will serve your enemies the Lord will send against you, in famine, thirst, nakedness, and a lack of everything. He will place an iron yoke^(AN) on your neck until he has destroyed you. ⁴⁹ The Lord will bring a nation from far away, from the ends of the earth,^(AO) to swoop down on you like an eagle,^(AP) a nation whose language you won’t understand,^{(AQ) 50} a ruthless nation,^[g] showing no respect for the old and not sparing the young. ⁵¹ They will eat the offspring of your livestock and your land’s produce until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine, fresh oil, young of your herds, or newborn of your flocks until they cause you to perish. ⁵² They will besiege you within all your city gates until your high and fortified walls, that you trust in, come down throughout your land. They will besiege you within all your city gates throughout the land the Lord your God has given you.

⁵³ “You will eat your offspring,^[h] the flesh of your sons and daughters the Lord your God has given you^(AR) during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you. ⁵⁴ The most sensitive and refined man among you will look grudgingly^[i] at his brother, the wife he embraces,^[j] and the rest of his children, ⁵⁵ refusing to share with any of them his children’s flesh that he will eat because he has nothing left during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you in all your towns. ⁵⁶ The most sensitive and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her refinement and sensitivity, will begrudge the husband she embraces, her son, and her daughter, ⁵⁷ the afterbirth that comes out from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else during the siege and hardship your enemy imposes on you within your city gates.

⁵⁸ “If you are not careful to obey all the words of this law, which are written in this scroll, by fearing this glorious and awe-inspiring name—the Lord, your God— ⁵⁹ he will bring wondrous plagues on you and your descendants, severe and lasting plagues, and terrible and chronic sicknesses. ⁶⁰ He will afflict you again with all the diseases of Egypt,^(AS) which you dreaded, and they will cling to you. ⁶¹ The Lord will also afflict you with every sickness and plague not recorded in the book of this law, until you are destroyed. ⁶² Though you were as numerous as the stars of the sky, you will be left with only a few people, because you did not obey the Lord your God. ⁶³ Just as the Lord was glad to cause you to prosper and to multiply you, so he will also be glad to cause you to perish and to destroy you. You will be ripped out of the land you are entering to possess. ⁶⁴ Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples from one end of the earth to the other,^(AT) and there you will worship other gods, of wood and stone,^(AU) which neither you nor your fathers have known.^{(AV) 65} You will find no peace among those nations, and there will be no resting place^(AW) for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despondent spirit. ⁶⁶ Your life will hang in doubt before you. You will be in dread night and day, never certain of survival. ⁶⁷ In the morning you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’—because of the dread you will have in your heart and because of what you will see. ⁶⁸ The Lord will take you back in ships to Egypt by a route that I said you would never see again.^(AX) There you will sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.”

A House Divided

¹⁴ Now^(A) he was driving out a demon^(B) that was mute.^(C) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,^(D) the ruler^(E) of the demons.”^{(F) 16} And others, as a test,^(G) were demanding of him a sign^(H) from heaven.

¹⁷ Knowing their thoughts,^(I) he told them, “Every kingdom divided^(J) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸ If Satan^(K) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom^(L) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons^(M) drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁰ If I drive out demons by the finger of God,^(N) then the kingdom of God^(O) has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. ²² But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers^(P) him, he takes from him all his weapons^[a](Q) he trusted^(R) in, and divides up his plunder.^{(S) 23} Anyone who is not with me is against me,^(T) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

²⁴ “When^(U) an unclean spirit^(V) comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest,^(W) and not finding rest, it then^[b] says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ ²⁵ Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits^(X) more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”^(Y)

True Blessedness

²⁷ As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd^(Z) raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!” ^(AA)

²⁸ He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God^(AB) and keep it.”^(AC)

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds were increasing, he began saying: “This generation^(AD) is an evil generation.^(AE) It demands a sign,^(AF) but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.^{[c](AG) 30} For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man^(AH) will be to this generation. ³¹ The queen of the south^(AI) will rise up at the judgment^(AJ) with the men of this generation and condemn^(AK) them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon,^(AL) and look—something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching, and look—something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body

³³ “No^(AM) one lights a lamp^(AN) and puts it in the cellar or under a basket,^[d] but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of the body.^(AO) When your eye is healthy, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad,^(AP) your body is also full of darkness. ³⁵ Take care, then, that the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If, therefore, your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be entirely illuminated, as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Psalm 77

Confidence in a Time of Crisis

For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph.^(A) A psalm.

Giving the Firstfruits

26 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance,^(A) and you take possession of it and live in it, ² take some of the first of all the land’s produce that you harvest from the land the Lord your God is giving you and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to have his name dwell.^{(B) 3} When you come before the priest who is serving at that time, say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your^[a] God that I have entered the land the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’

⁴ “Then the priest will take the basket from you and place it before the altar of the Lord your God. ⁵ You are to respond by saying in the presence of the Lord your God:

My father was a wandering Aramean.^(C) He went down to Egypt with a few people and resided there as an alien.^(D) There he became a great, powerful, and populous nation. ⁶ But the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, and forced us to do hard labor. ⁷ So we called out to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our cry and saw our misery, hardship, and oppression.^{(E) 8} Then the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with terrifying power, and with signs and wonders. ⁹ He led us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.^{(F) 10} I have now brought the first of the land’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.

You will then place the container before the Lord your God and bow down to him. ¹¹ You, the Levites, and the resident aliens among you will rejoice^(G) in all the good things the Lord your God has given you and your household.

The Tenth in the Third Year

¹² “When you have finished paying all the tenth of your produce in the third year,^(H) the year of the tenth, you are to give it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children and widows, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. ¹³ Then you will say in the presence of the Lord your God:

I have taken the consecrated portion out of my house; I have also given it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children, and widows, according to all the commands you gave me. I have not violated or forgotten your commands. ¹⁴ I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead.^(I) I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done all you commanded me. ¹⁵ Look down from your holy dwelling, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Covenant Summary

¹⁶ “The Lord your God is commanding you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. Follow them carefully with all your heart and all your soul. ¹⁷ Today you have affirmed that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and ordinances, and obey him. ¹⁸ And today the Lord has affirmed that you are his own possession as he promised you, that you are to keep all his commands, ¹⁹ that he will elevate you to praise, fame, and glory above all the nations he has made, and that you will be a holy people^(J) to the Lord your God as he promised.”

The Law Written on Stones

27 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, “Keep every command I am giving you today. ² When you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster.^{(K) 3} Write all the words of this law on the stones after you cross to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(L) as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you. ⁴ When you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to cover them with plaster. ⁵ Build an altar of stones there to the Lord your God—do not use any iron tool on them.^{(M) 6} Use uncut stones to build the altar of the Lord your God and offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God on it. ⁷ There you are to sacrifice fellowship offerings, eat, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God. ⁸ Write clearly all the words of this law on the plastered stones.”

The Covenant Curses

⁹ Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, “Be silent, Israel, and listen! This day you have become the people of the Lord your God. ¹⁰ Obey the Lord your God and follow his commands and statutes I am giving you today.”

¹¹ On that day Moses commanded the people, ¹² “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. ¹³ And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to deliver the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.^{(N) 14} The Levites will proclaim in a loud voice to every Israelite: