1. Moses continued to speak to all the Israelites:
2. “I’m 120 years old now, and I’m not able to lead you anymore. Besides, the Lord has told me that I cannot cross the Jordan River.
3. The Lord your God is the one who will cross the river ahead of you. He will destroy those nations as you arrive, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will also cross the river ahead of you, as the Lord told you.
4. The Lord will do to those nations what he did to King Sihon and King Og of the Amorites and to their lands when he destroyed them.
5. The Lord will hand them over to you, and you must do to them everything that I commanded you.
6. Be strong and courageous. Don’t tremble! Don’t be afraid of them! The Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you.”
7. Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous. You will go with these people into the land that the Lord will give them, as he swore to their ancestors. You will help them take possession of the land.
8. The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you. He will be with you. He won’t abandon you or leave you. So don’t be afraid or terrified.”
9. Moses wrote down these teachings and gave them to the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise and to all the leaders of Israel.
10. Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seventh year you must cancel debts. At that time, during the Festival of Booths,
11. all the Israelites will come into the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose. Read these teachings so that they can hear them.
12. Assemble the men, women, and children, as well as the foreigners who live in your cities. Have them listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and faithfully obey every word of these teachings.
13. Their children, who don’t know these teachings, must hear them and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land that you are going to take possession of when you cross the Jordan River.”
14. The Lord said to Moses, “The time of your death is coming soon. Call for Joshua. Both of you come to the tent of meeting, and I will give him his instructions.” Moses and Joshua came to the tent of meeting.
15. Then the Lord appeared in a column of smoke at the entrance to the tent.