Deuteronomy 31:19-29

English Standard Version

¹⁹“Now therefore write ^(A)this song and ^(B)teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be ^(C)a witness for me against the people of Israel. ²⁰For when I have brought them into the land ^(D)flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and ^(E)grown fat, ^(F)they will turn to other gods and serve them, and ^(G)despise me and ^(H)break my covenant. ²¹And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as ^(I)a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For ^(J)I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.” ²²So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.

²³^(K)And the Lord^[a] commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, ^(L)“Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. ^(M)I will be with you.”

²⁴When Moses had finished ^(N)writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, ²⁵Moses commanded ^(O)the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, ²⁶“Take this Book of the Law ^(P)and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for ^(Q)a witness against you. ²⁷For I know how rebellious and ^(R)stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, ^(S)you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death! ²⁸Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak ^(T)these words in their ears and ^(U)call heaven and earth to witness against them. ²⁹For I know that after my death ^(V)you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And ^(W)in the days to come ^(X)evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, ^(Y)provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”