Deu 30 | EE | STEP | I have told you to choose between good things and bad things. When they happen to you, you will remember my words. When God has caused you to go out of your country, you will remember my words. When you have to live among people in other countries, you will remember my words.

Deuteronomy 30

Good things will happen again when Israel‘s people come back to the LORD

1 I have told you to choose between good things and bad things. When they happen to you, you will remember my words. When God has caused you to go out of your country, you will remember my words. When you have to live among people in other countries, you will remember my words. 2 Then you and your children will come back to the LORD. You will love and obey him completely, in your work and in your thoughts. You must obey all his commands that I am giving to you today. 3 If you do that, the LORD your God will cause good things to happen to you again. He will be sorry for you. He will bring you back from the countries where he sent you away. 4 Perhaps he may have sent you to countries that are very far away. Even from there, he will cause you to come together and he will bring you back. 5 He will bring you to your fathers’ country and it will be yours. He will do greater things for you than he did for your fathers. He will make you more in number than your fathers. 6 The LORD your God will make you and your children like different people. Then you will love him completely and you will live. 7 Then the LORD your God will make all these bad things happen to your enemies. They hate you and do cruel things to you. 8 You will obey the LORD again and you will obey all his rules. These are the rules that I give to you today. 9 If you do that, the LORD your God will cause all your work to do very well. He will give you many children, many animals and enough food in your fields for everyone. The LORD will make good things happen to you. You will give him much pleasure, in the same way as your fathers gave him pleasure. 10 This will happen if you obey all the rules and decrees of the LORD your God. I have written them in this scroll. You must obey the LORD your God completely, in your work and in your thoughts.

God offers life or death

11 The thing that I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you. 12 It is not in God’s home. So you do not have to ask, ‘Who will go up to God’s home and bring it down to us? Then we can understand his words and obey them.’

13 Nor is it across the sea. So you do not have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to fetch it? Then we can understand his words and obey them.’

14 No! God’s word is very near to you. It is in your mouth and in your mind, so that you can obey it.

15 Look! I offer you today, life and good things, or death and very bad things. You must choose which you will have. 16 I say this because I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God. Live in a way that will give him pleasure. If you obey all his rules, you will live. And you will have many children. Then the LORD your God will make good things happen to you, in your country. This is the country that you are going into.

17 But you may think about other things and refuse to listen. If you do that, people will lead you to other gods. You will obey them and pray to them. 18 If you do that, God will certainly destroy you. I am saying that to you today. You will not live for many years in your country that is across the River Jordan.

19 Today, I want the sky and the earth to hear my words. I am shouting them aloud. For I have offered you, life or death, good things or bad things. Choose life! If you do that, you and your children will live. 20 Then you will love the LORD your God. You will listen to his voice and you will stay very near to him. You will do this because the LORD is the most important person in your life. He will let you live for many years. You will live in the country that he promised to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.