31:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tent 2 of meeting 3 so that I can commission him.” 4 So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 31:15 The Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud that 5 stood above the door of the tent. 31:16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die, 6 and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they 7 are going. They 8 will reject 9 me and break my covenant that I have made with them. 10 31:17 At that time 11 my anger will erupt against them 12 and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcome 13 them 14 so that they 15 will say at that time, ‘Have not these disasters 16 overcome us 17 because our 18 God is not among us 19 ?’ 31:18 But I will certainly 20 hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they 21 will have done by turning to other gods. 31:19 Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites! 31:20 For after I have brought them 22 to the land I promised to their 23 ancestors – one flowing with milk and honey – and they 24 eat their fill 25 and become fat, then they 26 will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant. 31:21 Then when 27 many disasters and distresses overcome them 28 this song will testify against them, 29 for their 30 descendants will not forget it. 31 I know the 32 intentions they have in mind 33 today, even before I bring them 34 to the land I have promised.” 31:22 So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites, 31:23 and the Lord 35 commissioned Joshua son of Nun, “Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you.” 36
31:24 When Moses finished writing on a scroll the words of this law in their entirety, 31:25 he 37 commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord’s covenant, 31:26 “Take this scroll of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. It will remain there as a witness against you, 31:27 for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. 38 Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death! 39 31:28 Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them. 31:29 For I know that after I die you will totally 40 corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in the days to come because you will act wickedly 41 before the Lord, inciting him to anger because of your actions.” 42 31:30 Then Moses recited the words of this song from start to finish in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel.