1 »These are the commands, decrees and laws Jehovah your God commanded me to teach you. Obey them after you enter the land and take possession of it.

2 »As long as you live, you, your son, and your grandson must respect Jehovah your God. All of you must obey his laws and commandments I give you. Then you will live a long time.

3 »Listen, O Israel, and be careful to obey these laws. Things will go well for you and your population will increase in a land flowing with milk and honey. This is what Jehovah the God of your ancestors promised you.

4 »Listen, Israel! JEHOVAH OUR GOD IS ONE GOD!

5 »You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with your entire mind and with all your strength.

6 »These words that I command you this day must be in your heart.

7 »Carefully teach them to your sons. Talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way. Speak about them when you lie down, and when you rise up.

8 »Bind them for a sign upon your hand. They shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

9 »Write them upon the posts of your house, and on your gates.

10 »It shall be like the time when Jehovah your God brought you into the land he promised to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. He would give you large and beautiful cities that you did not build.

11 »The houses will be full of good things that you did not put in them. There will be wells that you did not dig. There will be vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant. Jehovah will bring you into this land and you will have all you want to eat.

12 »Beware that you do not forget Jehovah, for he brought you out of Egypt your house of bondage.

13 »You must respect Jehovah your God. Serve him and swear by his name!

14 »Do not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.

15 »Jehovah your God is a totally demanding zealous God. He tolerates no rivals! The anger of Jehovah your God will burn against you. He will then destroy you from the face of the earth.

16 »Do not test Jehovah your God like you tested him in Massah.

17 »Obey the commandments of Jehovah your God. Obey his testimonies and statutes for he commanded you.

18 »Do what is right and good in Jehovah’s sight. Then you will be able to go in and possess this good land from your enemies, just as he promised your ancestors.

19 »You will throw out all your enemies as Jehovah said.

20 »In the future your son will ask you: ‘What is the meaning of these laws and regulations that Jehovah our God has commanded you?’

21 »‘You will answer your son: ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and Jehovah brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

22 »‘Jehovah showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and terrible signs, against Egypt, Pharaoh and his entire household.

23 »‘He brought us out from there. That way he could give us the land he swore to give to our fathers.

24 »‘Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes. He required that we respect Jehovah our God. This was for our own good that he might preserve us alive, as things are today.

25 »‘If we are careful to do these commandments before Jehovah our God, just as he ordered us, it will mean righteousness for us.’«