Bible History
Bible History

Deuteronomy 32 - Lexham English Bible (LEB)

You are here: Home Lexham English Bible (LEB) Deuteronomy 32

The Song of Moses

32 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2 May my teaching trickle like the dew,
my words like rain showers on tender grass,
and like spring showers on new growth.
3 For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh;
ascribe greatness to our God!
4 The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are just;
he is a faithful God, and without injustice;[a]
righteous and upright is he.
5 They have behaved corruptly toward[b] him;
they are not his children; this is their flaw,
a generation crooked and perverse.
6 Like this do you treat Yahweh,
foolish and unwise[c] people?
Has he not, your father, created you?
He made you, and he established you.
7 Remember the old days, the years long past;[d]
ask your father, and he will inform you,
your elders and they will tell you.[e]
8 When the Most High apportioned[f] the nations,
at his dividing up of the sons of humankind,
he fixed the boundaries of the peoples,
according to the number of the children of Israel.[g]
9 For Yahweh’s portion was his people,
Jacob the share of his inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land,
and in a howling, desert wasteland;
he encircled him,[h] he cared for him,
he protected him like the apple[i] of his eye.
11 As an eagle stirs up its nest,
hovers over its young,
spreads out its wings, takes them,[j]
carries them[k] on its pinions,[l]
12 so Yahweh alone guided him,[m]
and there was no foreign god accompanying him.[n]
13 And he set him on the high places of the land,
and he fed him the crops[o] of the field,
and he nursed him with honey from crags,[p]
and with oil from flinty rock,
14 With curds[q] from the herd,
and with milk from the flock,
with the fat of young rams,
and rams, the offspring of Bashan,
and with goats along with the finest kernels of wheat,
and from the blood of grapes[r] you drank fermented wine.[s]
15 And Jeshurun grew fat, and he kicked;
you grew fat, you bloated, and you became obstinate;
and he abandoned God, his maker,
and he scoffed at the rock of his salvation.
16 They made him jealous with strange gods;
with detestable things they provoked him.
17 They sacrificed to the demons, not God,
to gods whom[t] they had not known,
new gods who[u] came from recent times;
their ancestors had not known them.[v]
18 The rock who[w] bore you, you neglected,
and you forgot God, the one giving you birth.
19 Then Yahweh saw, and he spurned them,
because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.
20 So he said, ‘I will hide my face from them;
I will see what will be their end,
for they are a generation of perversity,
children in whom there is no faithfulness.[x]
21 They annoyed me with what is not a god;
they provoked me with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those not a people,
with a foolish nation I will provoke them.
22 For a fire was kindled[y] by my anger,
and it burned up to the depths of Sheol,[z]
and it devoured the earth and its produce,
and it set afire the foundation of the mountains.
23 I will heap disasters upon them;
my arrows I will spend on them.
24 They will become weakened by famine,
and consumed by plague and bitter pestilence;
and the teeth of wild animals I will send against them,
with the poison of the creeping things in the dust;
25 From outside her boundaries the sword will make her childless,
and from inside, terror;
both for the young man and also the young woman,
the infant along with the gray-headed man.
26 I thought, “I will wipe them out;
I will make people forget they ever existed.”[aa]
27 If I had not feared a provocation of the enemy,
lest their foes might misunderstand, [ab]
lest they should say, [ac] “Our hand is
triumphant,[ad] and Yahweh did not do all this.”’
28 For they are a nation void of sense,[ae]
and there is not any understanding in them.
29 If only they were wise, they would understand this;
they would discern for themselves their end.[af]
30 How could one chase a thousand
and two could cause a myriad to flee,
if their Rock had not sold them,
and Yahweh had not given them up?
31 For the fact of the matter is,
their rock is not like our Rock,
and our enemies recognize[ag] this.
32 For their vine is from the vine of Sodom,
and from the terraces of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of poison;
their clusters are bitter.[ah]
33 Their wine is the poison of snakes,
and the deadly poison of horned vipers.
34 ‘Is not this stored up with me,
sealed in my treasuries?’[ai]
35 Vengeance belongs to me[aj] and also recompense,
for at the time their foot slips,[ak]
because the day of their disaster is near,
and fate comes quickly for them.’[al]
36 For Yahweh will judge on behalf of his people,
and concerning his servants;
he will change his mind when he sees that their power has disappeared,
and there is no one left, confined[am] or free.[an]
37 And he will say, ‘Where are their gods,
their rock in whom[ao] they took refuge?
38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their libations?
Let them rise up, and let them help you;
Let them be to you a refuge.[ap]
39 See, now, that I, even I am he,
and there is not a god besides me;
I put to death and I give life;
I wound and I heal;
there is not one who delivers from my hand!
40 For indeed I lift up my hand to heaven,
And I promise as I live forever,[aq]
41 When I sharpen[ar] my flashing sword,[as]
and my hand takes hold[at] of it in judgment,
I will take reprisals against my foes,[au]
and my haters I will repay.
42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
and my sword shall devour flesh with the blood of the slain,
and captives[av] from the heads[aw] of the leaders of the enemy.’
43 Call for songs of joy, O nations, concerning his people,[ax]
for the blood of his servants he will avenge,
and he will take reprisals against his foes,[ay]
and he will make atonement for his land, his people.”

44 And Moses came, and he spoke[az] all the words of this song in the ears of the people; that is, he and Joshua the son of Nun. 45 And when Moses finished speaking[ba] all these words to all Israel, 46 then he said to them, “Take to heart all the words[bb] that I am admonishing against you today[bc] concerning which you should instruct them with respect to your children[bd] so that they will observe diligently[be] all the words of this law, 47 for it is not a trifling matter among you, but it is your life, and through this word you will live long in the land[bf] that you are about to cross the Jordan to get there to take possession of it.”

Instructions Concerning Moses’ Death

48 And Yahweh said to Moses on exactly this day, saying,[bg] 49 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim range, Mount Nebo, which is opposite Jericho,[bh] and see the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites[bi] as a possession. 50 You shall die on that mountain that you are about to go up there, and you will be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor[bj] and he was gathered to his people, 51 because of the fact that you broke faith with me in the midst of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the desert of Zin, because you did not treat me as holy[bk] in the midst of the Israelites.[bl] 52 Yes, from afar you may view the land, but there you shall not enter there, that is, into the land that I am giving to the Israelites.”[bm]

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 32:4 Literally “there is not injustice”
  2. Deuteronomy 32:5 Or “with”
  3. Deuteronomy 32:6 Literally “not wise”
  4. Deuteronomy 32:7 Literally “the years of from generation to generation”
  5. Deuteronomy 32:7 Hebrew “to you”
  6. Deuteronomy 32:8 Literally “In/at the apportioning of the Most High”
  7. Deuteronomy 32:8 LXX reads “the number of the angels of God”; Dead Sea Scrolls reads “the number of the sons of God”
  8. Deuteronomy 32:10 Literally “moved around him”
  9. Deuteronomy 32:10 Literally “pupil”
  10. Deuteronomy 32:11 Hebrew “it” but used poetically and with plural sense in context
  11. Deuteronomy 32:11 Hebrew “it” but used poetically and with plural sense in context
  12. Deuteronomy 32:11 Hebrew “pinion”
  13. Deuteronomy 32:12 That is, Jacob, standing for Israel
  14. Deuteronomy 32:12 Literally “and there was not with him a god foreign/strange”
  15. Deuteronomy 32:13 Hebrew “crop”
  16. Deuteronomy 32:13 Hebrew “crag”
  17. Deuteronomy 32:14 Hebrew “curd”
  18. Deuteronomy 32:14 Hebrew “grape”
  19. Deuteronomy 32:14 Or “partially fermented wine”; others translate simply as wine (NASB, NEB); HALOT 330, “still fermenting wine”
  20. Deuteronomy 32:17 Hebrew “them”
  21. Deuteronomy 32:17 Hebrew “they,” understood in the verb form
  22. Deuteronomy 32:17 Literally “their fathers not knew them”
  23. Deuteronomy 32:18 Hebrew “he,” understood in verb form
  24. Deuteronomy 32:20 Literally “sons not faithfulness is in them”
  25. Deuteronomy 32:22 Or “ignited”
  26. Deuteronomy 32:22 Literally “up to Sheol depths”
  27. Deuteronomy 32:26 Literally “I will blot out from among human being their remembrance”
  28. Deuteronomy 32:27 Or “so that they not make a false construal” of what has happened
  29. Deuteronomy 32:27 Or “so that they might not”
  30. Deuteronomy 32:27 Literally “raised/held high”
  31. Deuteronomy 32:28 Literally “they a nation perishing of counsel”
  32. Deuteronomy 32:29 Literally “they would discern for end their”
  33. Deuteronomy 32:31 The meaning of this expression is uncertain, but “discerns” or “judges” seem good choices; see HALOT 932, which allows for “judges” or “in the estimation of our enemies”
  34. Deuteronomy 32:32 Literally “clusters of bitter are for them”
  35. Deuteronomy 32:34 Or “storehouses
  36. Deuteronomy 32:35 Literally “To me is vengeance”
  37. Deuteronomy 32:35 Literally “at the time when it shall slip foot their”
  38. Deuteronomy 32:35 Literally “and comes quickly/hurries events to come to them”
  39. Deuteronomy 32:36 Or “bond/bound”
  40. Deuteronomy 32:36 Or “freed”
  41. Deuteronomy 32:37 Hebrew “in him”
  42. Deuteronomy 32:38 Literally “let there be/him/them unto you as a shelter”
  43. Deuteronomy 32:40 Literally “live I to eternity”
  44. Deuteronomy 32:41 Or “have sharpened”
  45. Deuteronomy 32:41 Literally “the flashing of my sword”
  46. Deuteronomy 32:41 Or “seizes”
  47. Deuteronomy 32:41 Literally “I will let return vengeance to foes my”
  48. Deuteronomy 32:42 Hebrew “captive”
  49. Deuteronomy 32:42 Hebrew “head”
  50. Deuteronomy 32:43 Dead Sea Scrolls reads: “Rejoice, O heavenly ones, with him! Bow down, all you gods, before him!”
  51. Deuteronomy 32:43 Literally “vengeance he will let return to his foes”
  52. Deuteronomy 32:44 Or “recited”
  53. Deuteronomy 32:45 Literally “And he finished Moses to speak”
  54. Deuteronomy 32:46 Literally “Put heart your to all the words”
  55. Deuteronomy 32:46 Literally “the day”
  56. Deuteronomy 32:46 Or “sons”
  57. Deuteronomy 32:46 Literally “to keep to do”
  58. Deuteronomy 32:47 Literally “you will make long days on the land”
  59. Deuteronomy 32:48 Literally “to say”
  60. Deuteronomy 32:49 Literally “on the face of Jericho”
  61. Deuteronomy 32:49 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  62. Deuteronomy 32:50 Literally “on Hor the mountain”
  63. Deuteronomy 32:51 Literally “that not you treated me as holy”
  64. Deuteronomy 32:51 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  65. Deuteronomy 32:52 Literally “sons/children of Israel”

You Might Also Like:

Deuteronomy 32 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

32 `Give ear, O heavens, and I speak; And thou dost hear, O earth, sayings of my mouth! 2 Drop as rain doth My doctrine; Flow as dew doth My sayings; As storms on the tender grass, And as showers on the herb, 3 For the Name of Jehovah I proclaim, Ascribe ye greatness to our God! 4 The Rock! -- perfe...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

32 Ye heavens, hear what things I shall speak; the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2 My teaching wax (al)together as rain; my speech flow out as dew, as soft rain upon herb, and as drops upon grass. (My teaching shall fall like drops of rain; my speech shall flow out like the dew, like showers on ...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - World English Bible (WEB)

32 Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.2 My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb.3 For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name. Ascribe greatness to our God!4 The Rock...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - The Voice (VOICE)

32 Moses: Listen, O sky, so I may speak! Pay attention, O earth, to what I say!2 Let my teaching fall on you like raindrops; let what I say collect like the dew, Like rain sprinkling the grass, like showers on the green plants.3 I will proclaim the name of the Eternal; I will utter greatness to ou...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Parashat HaazinuThe Song of Moses32 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak!Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.2 May my teaching trickle like rain,my speech distill like dew— like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants.3 For I will proclaim Adonai’s Name,ascribe greatness to ou...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

32 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.2 May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dew,as the gentle rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb.3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Ascribe greatness to our God!...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

32 Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth.2 May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew;like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth.3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! 4 The Rock, his wor...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

32 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth.(A)2 May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew,like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth.(B)3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord, ascribe greatness to our God!(C)4 The Rock...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New Living Translation (NLT)

32 “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak! Hear, O earth, the words that I say!2 Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew.Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants.3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God!4 He is...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Song of Moses32 “Listen, O heavens, and let me speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2 Let my teaching fall as the rain, and my voice like the water on the grass in the early morning, like rain upon the new grass, and rain upon the plant. 3 For I will make known the name of the Lord...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Song of Moses32 “Give (A)ear, O heavens, and I will speak;And hear, O (B)earth, the words of my mouth.2 Let (C)my [a]teaching drop as the rain,My speech distill as the dew,(D)As raindrops on the tender herb,And as showers on the grass.3 For I proclaim the (E)name of the Lord:(F)Ascribe greatness...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

32 Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew,like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. 3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!4 He is the Rock...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

32 Heavens, listen to me. Then I will speak. Earth, hear the words of my mouth.2 Let my teaching fall like rain. Let my words come down like dew.Let them be like raindrops on new grass. Let them be like rain on tender plants. 3 I will make known the name of the Lord. Praise God! How great he is!4 He...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New English Translation (NET)

Invocation of Witnesses32 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak;hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.2 My teaching will drop like the rain,my sayings will drip like the dew,[a]as rain drops upon the grass,and showers upon new growth.3 For I will proclaim the name[b] of the Lord;you must acknowledge th...
Read More

Deuteronomy 32 - New Century Version (NCV)

32 Hear, heavens, and I will speak.Listen, earth, to what I say.2 My teaching will drop like rain; my words will fall like dew.They will be like showers on the grass; they will pour down like rain on young plants.3 I will announce the name of the Lord. Praise God because he is great!4 He is like a r...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags