Deuteronomy 31

Moses Passes the Baton to Joshua

1 Moses kept it moving and gave this message to all of Israel:

2 He said, “Look, I am 120 years old now. I cannot roll like I used to. And God already told me I am not crossing the Jordan River.”

3 “But the Lord your God, He is going ahead of you all. He is going to destroy the nations in front of you, and you are going to take over. Joshua is going to lead you all, just like God said.”

4 God is going to handle them nations just like He did Sihon and Og, the kings He already wiped out.

5 He will hand them over to you all, and you are going to do what needs to be done, no mercy, just like God commanded.

Do Not Be Scared, God with You

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be shook, do not be scared, God got you. He is not going to leave you hanging.

7 Then Moses called Joshua up and said in front of everybody: “Be strong and bold, man. You are going to lead these people into the land God promised. You are going to make sure they get what is theirs.”

8 “The Lord Himself going before you. He got your back. He will not bail on you. Do not trip, do not freeze up.”

Read the Law Out Loud Every 7 Years

9 Moses wrote down all God’s words and gave it to the priests, the Levites who carried the Ark, and the elders.

10 Moses told them, “Every 7 years, during the year of debt release, when everybody shows up…”

11 “…at the Festival of Shelters, when all Israel comes before the Lord at His chosen spot, Read this Law out loud for everybody to hear.”

12 Gather the whole crew, men, women, kids, and even the outsiders living among you all, So they can learn to respect God and follow His commands.

13 Do this so your kids, who have not heard it before, Can hear it too and learn to walk in the ways of the Lord.

God Warns Moses What Is Coming

14 Then God told Moses, “Your time’s almost up. Call Joshua, it is time to pass the torch.” So they stood together at the Tent of Meeting, and God showed up.

15 The Lord showed up in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent.

16 Then God told Moses, “After you gone, these people going to start wilding, Cheating on Me with other gods and breaking the covenant.

17 I will turn My face away from them. They are going to get hit with trouble, and say, ‘God left us, that is why this is happening.’”

18 But I am going to stay hidden, because they are going to keep doing dirt.

Write the Song, So They Do Not Forget

19 God said, “Write down this song and teach it to the people. Let it be a witness against them when they mess up.”

20 “I will bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, But once they eat good and get comfortable, they will start worshiping other gods.”

21 “When the trouble comes, this song going to pop back in their heads, a witness that I warned them. They cannot say, ‘Nobody told us.’”

22 So Moses wrote the song that very day and taught it to Israel.

God Charges Joshua

23 Then God pulled Joshua to the side and said, “Be strong and fearless. You are going to lead these people into the land I promised. I am with you every step.”

Moses Hands Over the Law to the Levites

24 When Moses finished writing all the words of the Law,

25 He gave orders to the Levites who carried the Ark of the Covenant:

26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the Ark. Let it sit there as a witness against you all.”

27 “I know how stubborn y’all are, even with me around. Imagine how y’all are going to act once I am gone.”

Moses Warns the Whole Nation

28 “Bring everybody, leaders and officers, I need to speak truth to you all before I bounce. Heaven and earth going to be my witnesses.”

29 “I already know… after I am gone, y’all are going to fall off, do evil, and catch all the smoke God warned you about.”