Deuteronomy 31:1–11

Joshua Becomes Israel’s Leader to Replace Moses

¹Moses 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. ³The 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. ⁴The 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. ⁵The Lord will hand them over to you, and you must do to them everything that I commanded you. ⁶Be 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.” 

⁷Then 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.^a8The 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.” 

⁹Moses 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. ¹⁰Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seventh year you must cancel debts. At that time, during the Festival of Booths, ¹¹all 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.