The Choice of Life or Death

11 “For this commandment which I command you today (A)is [a]not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 (B)It 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, (C)in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

15 “See, (D)I 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 (E)I 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 (F)I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that (G)I 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 (H)life 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 30:11 not hidden from

The Offer of Life or Death

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.(A) 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven(B) to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”(C) 13 Nor is it beyond the sea,(D) so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”(E) 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.(F)

15 See, I set before you today life(G) and prosperity,(H) death(I) and destruction.(J) 16 For I command you today to love(K) the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live(L) and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.(M) You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you(N) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.(O) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love(P) the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,(Q) and he will give(R) you many years in the land(S) he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

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