1Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.
2He told them, "Today I am 120 years old. I can no longer lead you out and in. Also, Yahweh has told me, 'You will not cross this Jordan River.'
3Yahweh your God himself will go ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua will lead you across, just as Yahweh has said.
4Yahweh will do to these nations what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and their land, when he destroyed them.
5Yahweh will hand them over to you, and you must do to them everything I have commanded you.
6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for Yahweh your God himself goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you."
7Moses called Joshua and said to him in front of all Israel, "Be strong and brave. You will go with these people into the land that Yahweh swore to their ancestors to give them, and you will help them take possession of it."
8Yahweh himself goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Don't be afraid. Don't lose courage."
9Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the Ark of Yahweh's covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.
10Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of every seven years, during the set time of the year of release, at the Festival of Shelters,
11when all Israel comes to appear before Yahweh your God in the place he will choose, you must read this law to all Israel so they can hear it.
12Gather the people—the men, women, and children, and the foreigners living among you—so they may hear, learn, respect Yahweh your God, and carefully follow all the words of this law.
13Their children, who have not known it, will also hear and learn to respect Yahweh your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
14Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, your time to die is near. Call Joshua and both of you present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting so I can give him his instructions." Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
15Yahweh appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the Tent.
16Yahweh said to Moses, "Listen, you will soon die and join your ancestors. These people will then turn away and behave like prostitutes, worshiping the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will abandon me and break my agreement with them.
17Then my anger will burn against them on that day. I will abandon them and hide my face from them. They will be destroyed, and many troubles and difficulties will come upon them. On that day they will say, 'Haven't these troubles come upon us because our God is not among us?'
18I will surely hide my face on that day because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.
19Therefore, write this song for yourselves now, and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths so this song can be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
20For when I have brought them into the land I swore to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and are full and prosperous, then they will turn to other gods, serve them, despise me, and break my agreement.
21When many troubles and difficulties come upon them, this song will serve as a witness against them. It will not be forgotten by their descendants, for I know their nature and what they are doing today, even before I have brought them into the land I swore to give them."
22So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.
23He commissioned Joshua son of Nun, saying, "Be strong and brave, for you will bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to them. I will be with you."
24When Moses had finished writing all the words of this law in a book,
25Moses commanded the Levites, who carried the Ark of Yahweh's covenant, saying,
26"Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the Ark of Yahweh's covenant with your God, so it may remain there as a witness against you."
27I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Look, even while I am still alive with you today, you have rebelled against Yahweh. How much more will you rebel after I die?
28Gather all the elders of your tribes and your officers to me, so I can speak these words for them to hear, and call on heaven and earth to testify against them.
29Because I know that after my death you will completely corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you. Bad things will happen to you in the future because you will do what is evil in Yahweh’s sight, making him angry with the work of your hands.”
30Moses spoke all the words of this song for the entire community of Israel to hear, until he finished.