1Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:2‘I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, “You shall not cross the Jordan.”3The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.4And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land.5The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said 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, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’
Public reading of the Law
9So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.10Then Moses commanded them: ‘At the end of every seven years, in the year for cancelling debts, during the Festival of Tabernacles,11when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.12Assemble the people – men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns – so that they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.13Their children, 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
14The Lord said to Moses, ‘Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.’ So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.15Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.16And the Lord said to Moses: ‘You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.17And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters 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?”18And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.19‘Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and make them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.20When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.21And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.’22So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.23The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: ‘Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.’24After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end,25he gave this command to the Levites who carried 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.27For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked 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!28Assemble 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.29For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster 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
30And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:
1Here are the words Moses spoke to all the Israelites.2He said, ‘I am now 120 years old. I’m not able to lead you anymore. The LORD has said to me, “You will not go across the River Jordan.”3The LORD your God himself will go across ahead of you. He’ll destroy the nations there in order to make room for you. You will take over their land. Joshua will also go across ahead of you, just as the LORD said he would.4The LORD will do to those nations what he did to Sihon and Og. He destroyed those Amorite kings along with their land.5The LORD will hand those nations over to you. Then you must do to them everything I’ve commanded you to do.6Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified because of them. The LORD your God will go with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you.’7Then Moses sent for Joshua. Moses spoke to him in front of all the Israelites. He said, ‘Be strong and brave. You must go with these people. They are going into the land the LORD promised to give to their people of long ago. You must divide it up among them. They will each receive their share.8The LORD himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope.’
The law must be read to the people
9Moses wrote down this law. He gave it to the priests, who are sons of Levi. They carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. He also gave the law to all the elders of Israel.10Then Moses commanded them, ‘You must read this law at the end of every seven years. Do it in the year when you forgive people what they owe. Read it during the Feast of Booths.11That’s when all the Israelites come to appear in front of the LORD your God at the holy tent. It will be at the place he will choose. You must read this law to them.12Gather the people together. Gather the men, women and children. Also bring together the outsiders living in your towns. Then they can listen and learn to have respect for the LORD your God. And they’ll be careful to obey all the words of this law.13Their children must hear it read too. They don’t know this law yet. They too must learn to have respect for the LORD your God. They must honour him as long as you live in the land. You are about to go across the River Jordan and take that land as your very own.’
The Israelites will refuse to obey the Lord
14The LORD said to Moses, ‘The day when you will die is near. Have Joshua go to the tent of meeting. Join him there. That is where I will appoint him as the new leader.’ So Joshua and Moses went to the tent of meeting.15Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud. It stood over the entrance to the tent.16The LORD spoke to Moses. He said, ‘You are going to join the members of your family who have already died. The Israelites will not be faithful to me. They will soon join themselves to the false gods that are worshipped in the land they are entering. The people will desert me. They will break the covenant I made with them.17In that day I will become angry with them. I will desert them. I will turn my face away from them. And they will be destroyed. Many horrible troubles and hard times will come on them. On that day they will say, “Trouble has come on us. Our God isn’t with us!”18I will certainly turn away from them on that day. I will do it because they did a very evil thing when they turned to other gods.19‘I want you to write down a song and teach it to the Israelites. Let them sing it. It will be my witness against them.20I will bring them into a land that has plenty of milk and honey. I promised the land to their people of long ago. In that land they will eat until they have had enough. They will get fat. When they do, they will turn to other gods and worship them. They will turn their backs on me. They will break my covenant.21Many horrible troubles and hard times will come on them. Then the song I am giving you will be a witness against them. That is because the song will not be forgotten by their children and their children’s children. I know what they are likely to do. I know it even before I bring them into the land I promised them.’22So that day Moses wrote the song down. And Moses taught it to the Israelites.23The LORD gave a command to Joshua, the son of Nun. He said, ‘Be strong and brave. You will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them. I myself will be with you.’24Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book. He wrote them down from beginning to end.25Then he gave a command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Moses said,26‘Take this Book of the Law. Place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. It will remain there as a witness against you.27I know how you refuse to obey the LORD. I know how stubborn you are. You have refused to obey him while I’ve been living among you. So you will certainly refuse to obey him after I’m dead!28Gather together all the elders of your tribes and all your officials. Bring them to me. Then I can speak these words to them. I can call for the heavens and the earth to be witnesses against them.29I know that after I’m dead you will certainly become very sinful. You will turn away from the path I’ve commanded you to take. In days to come, trouble will fall on you. That’s because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD. You will make him very angry because of the statues of gods your hands have made.’
The song of Moses
30Moses spoke the words of this song from beginning to end. The whole community of Israel heard them. Here is what he said.
1Und Mose ging hin und redete diese Worte zu ganz Israel. (De 1:1; De 31:30)2Und er sprach zu ihnen: 120 Jahre bin ich heute alt, ich kann nicht mehr aus- und eingehen; und der HERR hat zu mir gesagt: Du sollst nicht über diesen Jordan gehen. (Ex 7:7; De 1:37; De 34:7)3Der HERR, dein Gott, er zieht vor dir her hinüber; er selbst wird diese Nationen vor dir vernichten, dass du sie vertreiben kannst. Josua, er zieht vor dir her hinüber, wie der HERR geredet hat. (Nu 27:21; De 7:1)4Und der HERR wird an ihnen handeln, wie er an Sihon und an Og, den Königen der Amoriter, und an ihrem Land gehandelt hat, die er vernichtet hat. (Nu 21:24; Jos 24:12)5Und wenn der HERR sie vor euch dahingibt, dann sollt ihr an ihnen handeln nach dem ganzen Gebot, das ich euch geboten habe. (De 7:2; Jos 11:15)6Seid stark und mutig, fürchtet euch nicht und erschreckt nicht vor ihnen! Denn der HERR, dein Gott, er ist es, der mit dir geht; er wird dich nicht aufgeben und dich nicht verlassen. (Ge 28:15; Nu 13:9; Nu 13:20; De 1:29; De 31:23; Jos 1:5; Jos 1:6; 1Sa 12:22; 2Sa 10:12; 1Ki 2:2; 1Ki 6:13; 1Ki 8:57; 1Ch 22:13; 1Ch 28:20; Ps 94:14; Jer 1:8; 1Co 16:13)7Und Mose rief Josua und sprach zu ihm vor den Augen von ganz Israel: Sei stark und mutig! Denn du, du wirst mit diesem Volk in das Land kommen, das der HERR ihren Vätern geschworen hat, ihnen zu geben; und du, du wirst es ihnen als Erbe austeilen. (Nu 13:20; Nu 27:19; De 1:8; De 1:38; De 31:21; Jos 1:6; 2Sa 10:12; 1Ki 2:2; 1Co 16:13; Heb 4:8)8Der HERR, er ist es, der vor dir herzieht; er selbst wird mit dir sein; er wird dich nicht aufgeben und dich nicht verlassen. Fürchte dich nicht und sei nicht niedergeschlagen! (Ge 28:15; Ex 32:1; Nu 13:9; De 31:23; Jos 1:5; 1Sa 12:22; 1Ki 6:13; 1Ki 8:57; 1Ch 22:13; 1Ch 28:20; Ps 94:14)
Gesetzeslesung alle sieben Jahre
9Und Mose schrieb dieses Gesetz auf und gab es den Priestern, den Söhnen Levi, die die Lade des Bundes des HERRN trugen, und allen Ältesten von Israel. (Ex 24:4; De 10:8; De 17:18; De 31:24; De 31:25; Jos 3:3; 1Ki 8:3)10Und Mose befahl ihnen und sagte: Am Ende von sieben Jahren, zur Zeit[1] des Erlassjahres, am Fest der Laubhütten, (Le 23:34; De 15:1)11wenn ganz Israel kommt, um vor dem HERRN, deinem Gott, an der Stätte zu erscheinen, die er erwählen wird, sollst du dieses Gesetz vor ganz Israel ausrufen lassen, vor ihren Ohren. (De 12:5; Jos 8:34; 2Ki 23:2; Ne 8:1)12Versammle das Volk, die Männer und die Frauen und die Kinder und deinen Fremden, der in deinen Toren ⟨wohnt⟩, damit sie hören und damit sie lernen und den HERRN, euren Gott, fürchten und darauf achten, alle Worte dieses Gesetzes zu tun! (De 4:10; De 29:9; Jos 8:33)13Und ihre Kinder, die es nicht wissen[2], sollen zuhören, damit sie den HERRN, euren Gott, fürchten lernen alle Tage, die ihr in dem Land lebt, in das ihr über den Jordan zieht, um es in Besitz zu nehmen. (De 32:47; Ps 78:5)
Gottes Befehl, das Moselied aufzuschreiben
14Und der HERR sprach zu Mose: Siehe, deine Tage sind herangekommen, dass du sterben wirst. Rufe Josua, und findet euch im Zelt der Begegnung ein, dass ich ihm Befehl erteile! Da gingen Mose und Josua hin und fanden sich im Zelt der Begegnung ein. (Ge 47:29; Nu 27:13; Nu 27:18; De 32:50; De 34:5; 2Ki 20:1)15Und der HERR erschien im Zelt, in der Wolkensäule; und die Wolkensäule stand über[3] dem Eingang des Zeltes. (Ex 33:9)16Und der HERR sprach zu Mose: Siehe, du wirst dich zu deinen Vätern legen. Und dieses Volk wird sich aufmachen und den fremden Göttern des Landes, in das es kommt, in seiner Mitte nachhuren. Und es wird mich verlassen und meinen Bund brechen, den ich mit ihnen geschlossen habe. (Ge 47:29; Ex 34:15; Nu 27:13; De 32:50; De 34:5; Jud 2:12; Jud 2:17; 2Ki 18:12; 2Ki 20:1; Isa 48:8; Ho 1:2)17Da wird mein Zorn an jenem Tag gegen es entbrennen, und ich werde sie verlassen und mein Angesicht vor ihnen verbergen. Und es wird zum Fraß werden, und viele Übel und Nöte werden es treffen. Und es wird an jenem Tag sagen: Haben diese Übel mich nicht deshalb getroffen, weil mein Gott nicht ⟨mehr⟩ in meiner Mitte ist? (De 7:21; De 30:18; De 32:20; Jud 6:13; 2Ch 21:10; Ps 44:10; Isa 2:6; Isa 5:25; Jer 8:19; Jer 33:5; Eze 39:23; Mic 3:4)18Ich aber, ich werde an jenem Tag mein Angesicht völlig verbergen wegen all des Bösen, das es getan, weil es sich andern Göttern zugewandt hat. (Ex 34:15; De 32:20; Jud 2:17; Isa 5:25; Isa 48:8; Jer 33:5; Eze 39:23)19Und nun, schreibt euch dieses Lied auf, und lehre es die Söhne Israel! Lege es in ihren Mund, damit dieses Lied mir zum Zeugen gegen die Söhne Israel wird[4]! (De 31:26; De 32:1; Jos 24:27)20Denn ich werde es in das Land bringen, das von Milch und Honig überfließt, das ich seinen Vätern zugeschworen habe, und es[5] wird essen und satt und fett werden. Und es wird sich andern Göttern zuwenden, und sie[6] werden ihnen dienen und mich verwerfen, und meinen Bund wird es[7] brechen. (De 6:3; Jer 31:32; Ho 6:7)21Und es wird geschehen, wenn viele Übel und Nöte es[8] treffen, dann wird dieses Lied als Zeuge vor ihm[9] aussagen; denn es wird nicht vergessen werden im Mund seiner[10] Nachkommen. Denn ich kenne sein Sinnen, mit dem es ⟨schon⟩ heute umgeht, ⟨noch⟩ bevor ich es in das Land bringe, das ich ⟨seinen Vätern⟩ zugeschworen habe. (De 30:18; Ps 139:2; Joh 2:24)22Und Mose schrieb dieses Lied an jenem Tag auf, und er lehrte es die Söhne Israel. (De 32:44)23Und er[11] befahl Josua, dem Sohn des Nun, und sprach: Sei stark und mutig! Denn du, du wirst die Söhne Israel in das Land bringen, das ich ihnen zugeschworen habe. Und ich will mit dir sein.
Aufbewahrung des Gesetzbuches
24Und es geschah, als Mose ⟨damit⟩ fertig war, die Worte dieses Gesetzes vollständig[12] in ein Buch zu schreiben,25da befahl Mose den Leviten, die die Lade des Bundes des HERRN trugen:26Nehmt dieses Buch des Gesetzes und legt es neben die Lade des Bundes des HERRN, eures Gottes, dass es dort zum Zeugen gegen dich wird! (2Ki 22:8)27Denn ich kenne deine Widerspenstigkeit und deine Halsstarrigkeit wohl. Siehe, heute ⟨schon⟩, während ich noch bei euch lebe, seid ihr widerspenstig gegen den HERRN gewesen; wie viel mehr nach meinem Tod! (Ex 32:9; De 9:6; 1Sa 12:15; Ne 9:29; Ps 78:8; Isa 30:9; Jer 5:23; Eze 20:21; Joh 5:45)
Aufforderung zum Hören des Liedes Moses
28Versammelt zu mir alle Ältesten eurer Stämme und eure Aufseher[13], dass ich diese Worte vor ihren Ohren rede und den Himmel und die Erde gegen sie als Zeugen aufrufe! (De 4:26; 2Ki 23:1)29Denn ich habe erkannt, dass ihr nach meinem Tod ganz und gar zu ⟨eurem⟩ Verderben handeln und von dem Weg abweichen werdet, den ich euch befohlen habe. Dann wird euch das Unheil treffen am Ende der Tage, weil ihr tun werdet, was böse ist in den Augen des HERRN, ihn zu reizen durch das Werk eurer Hände. (Ex 32:7; De 32:5)30Und Mose redete vor den Ohren der ganzen Versammlung Israels die Worte dieses Liedes zu Ende[14]: (De 31:1; De 32:44; 2Sa 22:1)