Deuteronomy

Moses gives speeches about laws and the importance of following God before the Israelites enter the Promised Land.

Chapter 10

1 At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.

*At that time, the LORD told me, "Create two stone tablets like the first ones, then go to the mountain with me and build a wooden box."

2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

*I will write the original words from the broken tables onto new ones, then place them in the ark.

3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.

*I built a wooden ark from shittim trees, and I carved two stone tablets like the first ones. Then, I climbed the mountain while holding the two tablets.

4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

*He wrote the same ten commands as before on the tables. God spoke these to you at the mountain, surrounded by fire during the big meeting. God then gave these commands to me.

5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

*So, I faced the other way, went down from the mountain, placed the stone tablets inside the box I made, and that's where they stay - just like the Lord told me to do.

6 And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest’s office in his stead.

*The Israelites traveled from a place called Beeroth to Mosera. During this journey, Aaron passed away and was buried. His son Eleazar took over his role as a priest.

7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.

*After that, they traveled to Gudgodah, and from there to Jotbath, a place with many river waters.

8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

*At that time, God chose the Levite tribe to carry the special box containing the agreement with God. They stood before God to serve Him, helping Him and blessing others in His name, up until now.

9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

*Levi doesn't get a share or inheritance like his brothers; instead, the LORD is his inheritance, just as the LORD your God promised him.

10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.

*I remained on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights as before. During this time, the Lord listened to me, and decided not to destroy you.

11 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.

*And God told me, "Get up and go with the people so they can enter and take the land that I promised to their ancestors to give to them."

12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

*So, Israel, what does the Lord your God want from you? He just wants you to respect and trust Him, follow His teachings, love Him, and dedicate all your heart and soul to serving Him.

13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

*To follow the LORD's rules and guidelines that I tell you, which are good for you.

14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

*Look, the sky and the highest sky belong to your God, the LORD. The land and everything in it also belong to him.

15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

*Only God enjoyed loving your ancestors, and He picked their descendants, including you, over everyone else, which is true today.

16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

*Remove the hardness from your heart and don't be stubborn anymore.

17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

*Your God is the ultimate ruler of all other gods. He's a powerful and fearsome God who doesn't show favoritism or accept bribes.

18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

*He carries out justice for orphans and widows, and shows love to foreigners by providing them with food and clothing.

19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

*Love those who are new here, because you were once new too in the land of Egypt.

20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

*You shall fear and worship the Lord your God. You should serve Him, be loyal to Him, and promise things by His name.

21 He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

*He's your praise and your God, the one who did amazing and scary things you saw with your eyes.

22 Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

*Your ancestors went to Egypt with only 70 people. Now, the Lord has increased your numbers like the stars in the sky.

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