And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.

10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

11 When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

12 Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

15 And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,

26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?

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Public Reading of the Law

So Moses wrote(A) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried(B) 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,(C) during the Festival of Tabernacles,(D) 11 when all Israel comes to appear(E) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,(F) you shall read this law(G) 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(H) to fear(I) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children,(J) 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(K) is near. Call Joshua(L) and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.(M)” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.(N)

15 Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.(O) 16 And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors,(P) and these people will soon prostitute(Q) themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake(R) me and break the covenant I made with them. 17 And in that day I will become angry(S) with them and forsake(T) them; I will hide(U) my face(V) from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters(W) 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?’(X) 18 And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

19 “Now write(Y) down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness(Z) 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,(AA) and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods(AB) and worship them,(AC) rejecting me and breaking my covenant.(AD) 21 And when many disasters and calamities come on them,(AE) this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do,(AF) even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” 22 So Moses wrote(AG) down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

23 The Lord gave this command(AH) to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous,(AI) 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(AJ) in a book the words of this law(AK) from beginning to end, 25 he gave this command to the Levites who carried(AL) 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.(AM) 27 For I know how rebellious(AN) and stiff-necked(AO) 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!

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