Moses

17And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

Moses sent them to look at the land of Canaan. He told them, "Go through the dry land in the south. Then go up into the hills.

18And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

Look at the land and see what it is like. See if the people who live there are strong or weak. See if there are many of them or only a few.

19And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

Find out if the land they live in is good or bad. Find out if they live in open camps or in cities with strong walls.

20And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

See if the soil is rich or poor. See if there are trees growing there. Be brave, and bring back some fruit from the land." It was the time of year when the first grapes get ripe.

21So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

So the men went up and looked at the land. They went from the desert of Zin all the way to Rehob, near the road to Hamath.

22And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

They went up through the dry land in the south and came to Hebron. Three men named Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai lived there. They came from the family of Anak. Hebron had been built seven years before the town of Zoan in Egypt.

23And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

They came to a valley called Eshcol. There they cut off one branch with a big bunch of grapes on it. It took two men to carry it on a pole. They also took some pomegranates and figs.

24The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

The place was named Eshcol, which means "bunch." It got that name because of the bunch of grapes the men cut there.

25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

After forty days the men came back from looking at the land.

26And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

They came to Moses and Aaron and all the people of Israel. This was at Kadesh, in the desert of Paran. The men told everyone what they had seen. They showed them the fruit from the land.

27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

They said to Moses, "We went to the land you sent us to see. It really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Look at the fruit we brought!

28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

But the people who live there are strong. Their cities are very big and have high walls around them. We even saw the family of Anak there.

29The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

The Amalekites live in the dry land in the south. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites live in the hills. The Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan River."

30And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

Then Caleb told the people to be quiet and listen. He said to them in front of Moses, "Let's go up right now and take the land. We can do it!"

31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

But the other men who had gone with him said, "We cannot fight those people. They are stronger than we are."

32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

So they gave the people of Israel a bad report about the land they had seen. They said, "That land eats up the people who live in it. Every person we saw there was very big.

33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

"We saw giants there, the sons of Anak, who came from the giants. Next to them we felt as small as grasshoppers. And that is how we looked to them too."

1And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

All the people cried out loud together. They wept all that night.

2And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

The people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. The whole group said to them, "We wish we had died back in Egypt! Or we wish we had died here in this empty desert!"

3And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

"Why is the LORD bringing us to this land? We will be killed by swords. Our wives and children will be carried off. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?"

4And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

They said to each other, "Let's choose a leader. Let's go back to Egypt."

5Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

Then Moses and Aaron bowed down with their faces to the ground. All the people of Israel were watching.

6And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh tore their own clothes. They were two of the men who had explored the land.

7And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

They said to the whole group of Israel, "The land we walked through is a very good land."

8If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

"If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us there. It is a rich land, full of milk and honey. He will give it to us."

9Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

"Only do not turn against the LORD. Do not be afraid of the people who live there. We will beat them as easily as eating bread. Nothing is left to keep them safe. The LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!"

10But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

But the whole group wanted to throw stones at Joshua and Caleb. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared at the tent where God met his people. All Israel saw it.

11And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with no respect? How long until they trust me? They have seen all the wonders I did."

12I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

"I will strike them with a sickness and destroy them. Then I will make you into a nation bigger and stronger than they are."

13And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)

Moses said to the LORD, "The Egyptians will hear about it. You brought these people out from Egypt with your great power."

14And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

"And they will tell the people who live in this land. Those people have heard that you, LORD, are here with Israel. They heard that you are seen face to face. Your cloud stands over them. You go ahead of them in a tall cloud by day. You go ahead in a tall fire by night."

15Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,

"If you kill all these people at once, the nations who have heard of you will talk. They will say,"

16Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

"'The LORD was not able to bring these people to the land he promised them. So he killed them out in the desert.'"

17And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

"So now, please show how great your power is. This is what you said about yourself:"

18The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

"'The LORD does not get angry quickly. He loves very much. He forgives wrong and sinful acts. But he does not let guilty people go free. He punishes children for their parents' sins, even the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.'"

19Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

"Please forgive these people for the wrong they have done. Your love is very great. You have forgiven them again and again since Egypt."

20And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

The LORD said, "I have forgiven them, just as you asked."

21But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

"But I am the living God, and this is sure. The whole earth will be filled with my glory."

22Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

"All these men saw my glory. They saw the wonders I did in Egypt and in the desert. Still they have tested me ten times. They have not listened to me."

23Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

"So none of them will see the land I promised to their fathers. Not one who treated me with no respect will see it."

24But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

"But my servant Caleb thinks in a different way. He has followed me with his whole heart. I will bring him into the land he visited. His family after him will own it."

25(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

(The Amalekites and the Canaanites were living in the valley.) "Tomorrow turn around. Go back into the desert on the road to the Red Sea."

1Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Korah came from the family of Levi. His father was Izhar, and Izhar's father was Kohath, son of Levi. Dathan and Abiram were sons of Eliab. On was the son of Peleth. These three came from the family of Reuben. Together they got other men to join them.

2And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

They stood up against Moses. With them stood 250 leaders of Israel. These were well-known men whom the people looked up to.

3And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

They all came against Moses and Aaron. Aaron was the priest who led the people's worship of God. They said, "You take too much power for yourselves. Every one of us belongs to God, and the LORD is with us all. So why do you lift yourselves above the rest of us?"

4And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

When Moses heard this, he bowed down with his face to the ground.

5And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

Then he said to Korah and all his men, "Tomorrow the LORD will show who belongs to him. He will show who is set apart for him. He will let that man come near to him. The man the LORD picks is the one he brings close."

6This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

"Here is what to do. You, Korah, and all your men must each take a censer."

7And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

"Tomorrow put fire in them and burn incense before the LORD. The man the LORD picks is the one set apart for him. You sons of Levi are the ones taking too much."

8And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

Moses also said to Korah, "Please listen, you sons of Levi."

9Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

"God set your family apart from the rest of Israel. He brought you close to himself to work at his holy tent. You also stand before the people and help them. Is that such a small thing to you?"

10And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

"God brought you near to him, and all your Levite brothers too. And now you want to be priests as well?"

11For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

"So really, you and your men have joined together against the LORD. Aaron is only a man. Why do you grumble against him?"

12And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. They said, "We will not come."

13Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

"You brought us out of a land full of milk and honey. Now we may die out here in this dry, empty land. Is that not bad enough? Must you rule over us too?"

14Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

"You have not brought us to a land full of milk and honey. You have not given us fields or vineyards of our own. Do you think you can poke out these men's eyes? We will not come."

15And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

Moses became very angry. He said to the LORD, "Do not accept their gift. I never took even one donkey from them. I never hurt any of them."

16And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your men must stand before the LORD. Aaron will be there too."

17And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

"Each man must take his censer and put incense in it. Bring all 250 censers before the LORD. You and Aaron must bring your censers too."

18And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

So each man took his censer, put fire in it, and added incense. They stood at the door of the meeting tent with Moses and Aaron.

19And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

Korah gathered all the people against them at the door of the tent. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared to everyone.

20And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,

21Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

"Move away from these people. I will destroy them in a moment."

22And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces to the ground. They said, "O God, you give life to every person. One man sinned. Will you be angry with all the people?"

23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Then the LORD said to Moses,

24Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

"Tell the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

25And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram. The leaders of Israel went with him.

26And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

He said to the people, "Please move away from the tents of these bad men. Do not touch anything they own. If you do, you will be swept away with them for their sins."

27So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

So the people moved back from those tents on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doors of their tents. Their wives, their sons, and their little children stood with them.

28And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

Moses said, "Now you will know the LORD sent me to do all this. I did not think it up myself."

29If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

"Maybe these men will die the way all people die. If nothing new or strange happens, then the LORD did not send me."

30But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

"But the LORD may do something never done before. The ground may open its mouth and swallow them and all they own. They will go down alive into the pit. Then you will know these men have shown no respect for the LORD."

31And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

As soon as Moses finished speaking, the ground under those men split open.

32And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

The earth opened its mouth. It swallowed the men, their homes, everyone with Korah, and all they owned.

33They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

They went down alive into the pit with everything they had. The earth closed over them. They were gone from among the people.

34And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

The Israelites nearby heard their cries and ran away. They said, "The earth might swallow us too!"

35And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Then fire came out from the LORD. It burned up the 250 men who had offered incense.

1Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

In the first month, all the people of Israel came to the desert of Zin. They stayed at a place called Kadesh. Miriam died there, and they buried her there.

2And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

There was no water for the people. So they came together to complain to Moses and Aaron.

3And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

The people argued with Moses. They said, "We wish we had died when our brothers died in front of the LORD!"

4And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

"Why did you bring God's people out here into this empty land? We will die here, and so will our animals."

5And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

"Why did you make us leave Egypt and come to this bad place? Nothing grows here. There are no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates. There is no water to drink."

6And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

Moses and Aaron left the crowd. They went to the door of the tent where people met with God. They lay down with their faces to the ground. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared to them.

7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

The LORD said to Moses,

8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

"Take the walking stick. Call all the people together, you and your brother Aaron. Speak to the rock while they watch. Water will pour out of it. You will bring water out of the rock for them. Then the people and their animals can drink."

9And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

So Moses took the walking stick from in front of the LORD, just as God told him.

10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Moses and Aaron called the people together in front of the rock. Moses said to them, "Listen now, you who keep saying no to God. Must we bring you water out of this rock?"

11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Then Moses raised his hand. He hit the rock twice with his stick. Lots of water came pouring out. The people drank, and their animals drank too.

12And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "You did not trust me. You did not show the people that I am holy. So you will not bring these people into the land I am giving them."

13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

This water was called Meribah. It got that name because the people of Israel argued with the LORD there. And there he showed that he is holy.

4And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

The people left Mount Hor and took the road toward the Red Sea. They went that way to go around the land of Edom. But the long, hard walk made the people upset and tired.

5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

The people spoke against God and against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die out here? There is no bread and no water. And we hate this awful food!"

6And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people. The snakes bit them, and many Israelites died.

7Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

The people came to Moses and said, "We did wrong. We spoke against the LORD and against you. Please ask the LORD to take the snakes away." So Moses prayed for the people.

8And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a tall pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."

9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

So Moses made a snake out of bronze and put it on a pole. When a bitten person looked at the bronze snake, that person lived.

12And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Climb up this mountain called Abarim. Look out at the land I am giving to the people of Israel.

13And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

After you have seen it, you will die and join your family, the way your brother Aaron did.

14For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

This is because you and Aaron did not obey me in the desert of Zin. The people were angry and arguing about water. I told you what to do, to show the people how holy I am. But you did not do it. That water is called the water of Meribah, at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin."

15And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

Then Moses said to the LORD:

16Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

"LORD, you are the God who gives life to every living person. Please choose a man to lead these people.

17Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Let him go out in front of them and come back with them. Let him lead them out and bring them home. Then your people will not be like sheep with no shepherd."

18And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

The LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua, the son of Nun. God's Spirit is in him. Put your hand on him.

19And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people. There, where everyone can see, give him his new job.

20And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

Give him some of your own power to lead. Then all the people of Israel will obey him.

21And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will ask the LORD what Joshua should do. He will use the Urim to find out God's answer. When Eleazar gives the word, Joshua and all Israel will go out. When he gives the word, they will come back."

22And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

Moses did what the LORD told him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people.

23And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Moses put his hands on Joshua and gave him his new job. He did just what the LORD had said through him.

1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.

Moses went and spoke these words to all the people of Israel.

2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

He said, "I am 120 years old today. I cannot lead you back and forth anymore. The LORD also told me I will not cross the Jordan River."

3The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

"The LORD your God will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations there, and you will take their land. Joshua will lead you across, just as the LORD said."

4And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.

"The LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og. They were kings of the Amorites. God destroyed them and took their land."

5And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

"The LORD will hand those nations over to you. Then you must do to them just what I commanded you."

6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

"Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God goes with you. He will never let you down. He will never leave you."

7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

Then Moses called Joshua. He spoke to him while all Israel watched. "Be strong and brave. You will go with these people into the land. Long ago the LORD promised this land to their fathers. You will help them take it as their own."

8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

"The LORD himself goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never let you down. He will never leave you. Do not be afraid. Do not give up hope."

9And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

So Moses wrote down this law. He gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi. They were the ones who carried the ark, the holy box that held God's agreement. He also gave it to all the leaders of Israel.

10And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

Moses gave them this command. "Every seventh year is a special year. In that year people forgive what others owe them. During the Feast of Shelters that year, do this."

11When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

"All Israel will come to meet with the LORD your God at the place he chooses. There you must read this law out loud so everyone hears it."

12Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

"Gather all the people together. Bring the men, the women, and the children. Bring the visitors from other lands who live in your towns. Then they can listen and learn. They will honor the LORD your God and carefully obey every word of this law."

13And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

"Their children do not know this law yet. They will hear it and learn to honor the LORD your God. Do this as long as you live in the land across the Jordan."

14And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

The LORD said to Moses, "You will die soon. Call Joshua. Both of you come to the meeting tent. There I will give Joshua his new job." So Moses and Joshua went and stood at the tent.

15And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

The LORD appeared at the tent inside a tall cloud. The cloud stood over the doorway of the tent.

16And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

The LORD said to Moses, "Soon you will die and rest with your family. Then these people will turn away from me. They will worship the gods of the land they are entering. They will leave me and break the agreement I made with them."

17Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

"On that day I will be angry with them. I will leave them and turn my face away. Their enemies will destroy them. Many troubles and hard times will come. Then they will say, 'These troubles came because our God is not with us.'"

18And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

"On that day I will surely turn my face away. I will do it because of all the wrong they have done. They have turned to other gods."

19Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

"So write down this song for yourselves. Teach it to the people of Israel. Have them sing it out loud. Then the song will speak for me against them."

20For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

"I will bring them into the land I promised their fathers. It is a rich land, full of milk and honey. They will eat all they want and grow rich. Then they will turn to other gods and serve them. They will turn against me and break our agreement."

21And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

"Many troubles and hard times will come to them. Then this song will speak against them. Their children and grandchildren will still remember it. I already know what they are planning. I know it even now, before I bring them into the land I promised."

22Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

So that same day Moses wrote this song down. He taught it to the people of Israel.

23And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

Then the LORD gave Joshua son of Nun his job. He said, "Be strong and brave. You will bring the people of Israel into the land I promised them. And I will be with you."

24And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

Moses kept writing the words of this law in a book. At last he finished all of it.

25That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

Then Moses gave a command to the Levites. They were the ones who carried the ark of the LORD's agreement.

26Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

"Take this book of the law. Put it beside the ark of the agreement of the LORD your God. It will stay there and speak against you."

27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

"I know how stubborn you are. I know you refuse to obey. You have already turned against the LORD while I am alive. It will be even worse after I die."

28Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

"Bring me all the leaders of your tribes and all your officers. I will speak these words so they can hear them. I will ask heaven and earth to be witnesses against them."

29For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

"I know that after I die you will do very wrong things. You will leave the path I commanded you to follow. In the days ahead trouble will come to you. You will do evil, and the things you make will make the LORD angry."

30And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

Then Moses said the words of this whole song out loud. All the people of Israel listened until he finished.