Deuteronomy 4:1–8

Introduction to the Stipulations

4 “Now, Israel, listen to the rules and to the regulations that I am teaching you to do, in order that you may live and you may go in and you may take possession of the land that Yahweh, the God of your ancestors,a is giving to you. 2 You must not add to the word that I am commanding you, and you shall not take away from it in order to keepb the commands of Yahweh your God that I am commanding you to observe. 3 Your eyes have seenc what Yahweh did withd the case of Baal Peor, for ⌊each⌋e man that followed after Baal Peor Yahweh your God destroyed from your midst. 4 But you, the ones holding fast to Yahweh your God, are all alive ⌊today⌋.f

5 See, I now teachg you rules and regulations just as Yahweh my God has commanded me, to observe them just so in the midst of the land where you are going, to take possession of it. 6 And ⌊you must observe them diligently⌋,h for that is your wisdom and your insight before the eyes of the people, who will hear all of these rules, and they will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people.’ 7 For what great nation has for it a god near to it as Yahweh our God, wheneveri we call upon him? 8 And what other great nation has for itj just rules and regulations just likek ⌊this whole⌋l law that I am setting ⌊before⌋m you ⌊today⌋?n