38. who ate up the fat of their sacrifices,who drank their sacred wine?They should stand up and help you!They should protect you now!
39. Now, look here: I myself, I’m the one;there are no other gods with me.I’m the one who deals death and gives life;I’m the one who wounded, but now I will heal.There’s no escaping my hand.
40. But now I’m lifting my hand to heaven—I swear by my own eternity:
41. when I sharpen my blazing swordand my hand grabs hold of justice,I’ll pay my enemies back;I’ll punish in kind everyone who hates me.
42. I’ll make my arrows drink much blood,while my sword devours flesh,the blood of the dead and captured,flowing from the heads of enemy generals."
43. Heavens: Rejoice with God!All you gods: bow down to the Lord!Because he will avenge his children’s blood;he will pay back his enemies;he will punish in kind those who hate him;he will cleanse his people’s land.
44. So Moses came and recited all the words of this poem in everyone’s hearing; Joshua, Nun’s son, joined him.
45. When Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel,
46. he told them: Set your mind on all these words I’m testifying against you right now, because you must command your children to perform carefully all the words of this Instruction.
47. This is no trivial matter for you—this is your very life! It is by this means alone that you will prolong your life on the fertile land you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.