Deuteronomy 32

1 Give ear [listen, pay attention], O heavens [the visible universe, the abode of God], and I will speak [communicate, declare]; hear [listen, obey], O earth [the land, the material world], the words [sayings, utterances] of my mouth [lips, voice]. word study 2 Let my teaching [instruction, divine guidance] fall like rain [dropping gently from above] and my speech [words, utterances] settle like dew [silent, refreshing moisture], like gentle rain [soft, nourishing showers] on new grass [fresh, tender growth], like showers [abundant, life-giving downpours] on tender plants [young, vulnerable vegetation]. word study 3 For [because of this reason] I will proclaim [declare, publish, invoke] the name [identity, character, reputation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. Ascribe [attribute, give, assign] greatness [magnitude, majesty, splendor] to our God [Elohim, the one supreme God, our divine Judge]! word study 4 He is the Rock [a refuge, strong and unshakeable], His work [everything He does, perfect and complete] is perfect; all His ways [paths, methods, and decisions] are just [right, fair, and righteous]. A God [Elohim, the supreme One] of faithfulness [steadfastness, loyalty, and trustworthiness] without [completely free from] injustice [wrong, unrighteousness, or evil], righteous [just, morally upright] and upright [straight, just, and fair] is He. word study 5 His people [those who claim to follow Him] have acted corruptly [dealt corruptly, sinned against] toward Him; the spot [blemish, flaw] on them is not that of His children [sons, descendants], but of a perverse [twisted, wicked] and crooked [distorted, false] generation [period of time, group of people]. word study 6 Is this how you repay [with ingratitude, in a foolish manner] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], O foolish [stupid, unwise] and senseless [lacking discernment] people? Is He not your Father [Abba, the one who gives life] and Creator [the one who makes and establishes]? Has He not made [formed, brought into existence] you and established [set you up, given you a place] you? word study 7 Remember [to recall, think about] the days [a period of time] of old [long past, ancient]; consider [to understand, reflect on] the years [a period of time] long past [of many generations, forever]. Ask [to inquire, seek information] your father [a parent or ancestor], and he will tell [to declare, inform] you, your elders [older and wiser ones], and they will inform [to tell, explain] you. word study 8 When the Most High [supreme God, the Almighty] gave the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrews] their inheritance [land, heritage], when He divided [separated, scattered] the sons of man [humanity, descendants of Adam], He set the boundaries [borders, limits] of the peoples [nations, tribes] according to the number [quantity, multitude] of the sons of God [Israel, God’s chosen people, divine beings]. word study 9 But the LORD’s portion [smoothness, inheritance, or allotted share] is His people [a nation, or those belonging to Him], Jacob [the father of the Israelites] His allotted [measured out, assigned] inheritance [something passed down, a family heirloom, or a legacy]. word study 10 He found him in a [barren, desolate] desert land, in a [waste, empty] barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded [encircled, protected] him, He instructed [taught, guided] him, He guarded [watched over, kept] him as the apple [pupil, center] of His eye. word study 11 As an eagle [a large bird of prey] stirs up its nest [a place of safety and nurturing] and hovers [protectively, with care] over its young [vulnerable, dependent ones], He spread His wings [to shelter and protect] to catch them [to rescue, to save] and carried them on His pinions [the strong, outer feathers]. word study 12 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] alone [in isolation, without any other] led [guided, directed] him, and no [nothing, not any] foreign [strange, heathen] god [el, a being of strength or power] was with [together, in accompaniment] him. word study 13 He made him ride [on the high places of the earth] on the heights [elevations, lofty regions] of the land [earth, territory] and fed him the produce [fruit, increase] of the field [cultivated land, soil]. He nourished him with honey [a sweet and valuable food] from the rock [a strong and secure place] and oil [olive oil] from the flinty [hard, unyielding] crag [craggy rock, cliff], word study 14 with curds [butter, rich milk product] from the herd [domesticated cattle] and milk from the flock [sheep or goats], with the fat [richest, best part] of lambs, with rams [strong, full-grown male sheep] from Bashan [fertile region, known for fruitful land], and goats [full-grown male goats], with the choicest [finest, best quality] grains of wheat [plant or grain]. From the juice [blood, liquid] of the finest [best, purest] grapes you drank the wine [made from grapes]. word study 15 But Jeshurun [the beloved, Israel] grew fat [became wealthy, prosperous] and kicked [rebelled, trampled]— becoming fat [sleek], bloated [thick, covered with fatness], and gorged [sated, completely full]. He abandoned [forsook, left] the God [Eloah, the one true God] who made [created, formed] him and scorned [lightly esteemed, dishonored] the Rock [a refuge] of his salvation [deliverance, victory]. word study 16 They provoked [stirred up, moved to anger] His jealousy [a righteous, godly envy] with foreign [strange, pagan] gods; they enraged [provoked to anger, stirred up wrath] Him with abominations [disgusting, detestable practices, idolatry]. word study 17 They sacrificed [to evil spirits, devils] to demons [malevolent spirits, unclean beings], not to God [Elohim, the one true deity], to gods [false deities, idols] they had not known [were unaware of, did not recognize], to newly arrived [recently come up, from the vicinity] gods, which your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] did not fear [dread, shudder at]. word study 18 You ignored [dismissed, were unmindful of] the Rock [strong refuge, divine protector] who brought you forth [gave you birth, begat thee]; you forgot [were oblivious to, neglected] the God [Elohim, supreme Creator] who gave you birth [formed, created thee]. word study 19 When the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] saw [to look after, to care for] this, He rejected [to spurn, to scorn] them, provoked [moved to anger, vexed] to anger [vexation, frustration] by His sons [descendants, children] and daughters [female children, or figuratively, the people of God]. word study 20 He said: “I will hide [conceal, veil] My face [presence, countenance] from them; I will see [look after, provide for] what will be their end [final outcome, destiny]. For they are a perverse [stubborn, disobedient] generation [people, descendants]— children [sons, descendants] of unfaithfulness [disloyalty, lack of trust]. word study 21 They have provoked [moved to anger, stirred up] My jealousy [a strong feeling of resentment, zeal] by that which is not [lacking, absent] God [Elohim, the one true divine being]; they have enraged [provoked, made angry] Me with their worthless [vain, empty] idols [false objects of worship]. So I will make them jealous [envious, resentful] by those who are not [non-existent, without true identity] a people [a nation, a group of individuals]; I will make them angry [provoked, irritated] by a nation [a Gentile group, a foolish multitude] without understanding [lacking wisdom, foolish]. word study 22 For a fire [flaming wrath, burning anger] has been kindled by My anger [indignation], and it burns [is ignited, set ablaze] to the depths [lowermost parts, the lowest] of Sheol [the underworld, the grave]; it consumes [eats, devours] the earth [land, ground] and its produce [crops, increase], and scorches [sets on fire, burns up] the foundations [base, starting point] of the mountains [hills]. word study 23 I will heap [gather, pile up] disasters [evils, mischiefs, troubles] upon them; I will spend [use up, consume] My arrows [sharp objects of war] against them [on them, upon them]. word study 24 They will be wasted [exhausted, consumed] from hunger [famine, lack of spiritual nourishment] and ravaged [devoured, destroyed] by pestilence [burning heat, disease] and bitter [poisonous, harmful] plague [destruction, ruin]; I will send [dispatch, release] the fangs [teeth] of wild beasts [animals, large quadruped mammals] against them, with the venom [poison, intense anger] of vipers [serpents, snakes] that slither [crawl, glide] in the dust [dry earth, clay]. word study 25 Outside [in the streets, beyond the wall], the sword [a cutting instrument] will take their children, and inside [in the chambers, private rooms], terror [fear, dread, or horror] will strike the young man [a chosen or select individual, in his prime] and the young woman [a virgin, untouched], the infant [nursing, helpless] and the gray-haired man [experienced, wise, with a long life]. word study 26 I would have said [declared, spoken] that I would cut them [scatter them into corners, blow them away] to pieces [into fragments, afar] and blot out [cause to cease, make disappear] their memory [remembrance, memorial] from mankind [human, among men, from among human beings], word study 27 if I had not dreaded [feared, stood in awe of] the taunt [provocation, wrath] of the enemy [adversary, one who hates], lest [so that not, beware that] their adversaries [those who oppose, enemies] misunderstand [judge amiss, wrongly interpret] and say: ‘Our own hand [strength, power] has prevailed [is exalted, lifted up]; it was not the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] who did [worked, brought about] all this [everything, these things].’” word study 28 Israel is a nation [void of wisdom, without sense] devoid of counsel [lacking advice, without a plan], with no [absence of, none] understanding [intelligence, insight] among them [specifically the men, as a group]. word study 29 If only they were wise [having good judgment], they would understand [to discern, comprehend] it; they would comprehend [be prudent, consider carefully] their fate [their latter end, future outcome]. word study 30 How [in what way, for what reason] could one man [a single individual] pursue [chase, follow with hostile intent] a thousand [a large number, a company of people], or two [a pair, a duo] put [cause, bring about] ten thousand [a myriad, a multitude] to flight [to flee, to quickly leave], unless [if not, except] their Rock [strong God, refuge] had sold [delivered, given up] them, unless [if not, except] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] had given [surrendered, delivered] them up [into the hands of their enemies, into captivity]? word study 31 For [because of this reason] their rock [not as our God, a lesser deity] is not like [as or comparable to] our Rock [the supreme God, our Refuge], even [including, or as judged by] our enemies [those who oppose or hate us, adversaries] concede [admit, acknowledge as judges]. word study 32 But their vine [of the vine of Sodom, from a corrupted source] is from the vine of Sodom and from the fields [cultivated lands, blasted areas] of Gomorrah. Their grapes [clusters of gall, poisonous fruit] are poisonous [full of gall, venomous]; their clusters [bunches of fruit, gatherings] are bitter [full of sorrow, painful]. word study 33 Their wine [the poison of dragons, fermented drink] is the venom [cruel, deadly poison] of serpents [sea-serpents, monsters], the deadly [incurable, fierce] poison [harmful substance, gall] of cobras [asps, venomous snakes]. word study 34 “Have I [certainly, without a doubt] not stored up [laid up in store, kept safe] these things, sealed up [locked away, marked as mine] within My vaults [treasure house, secret storehouse]? word study 35 Vengeance [recompense, punishment] is Mine; I will repay [give back, restore justice]. In due time [at the right moment, when their foot shall slide] their foot [step, path] will slip; for their day [time, period] of disaster [calamity, oppression] is near [at hand, approaching], and their doom [destruction, fate] is coming quickly [hastening, rushing upon them].” word study 36 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will vindicate [judge and defend] His people [a nation or community] and have compassion [pity and sympathy] on His servants [those who serve Him] when He sees [looks after and cares for] that their strength [power and ability] is gone [exhausted and used up] and no one remains [is left or preserved], slave [one bound to service] or free [unrestricted and at liberty]. word study 37 He will say: “Where [in what location, how] are their gods [divine beings, idols], the rock [foundation, stronghold] in which they took refuge [sought protection, trusted], word study 38 which [eating and devouring] ate the fat [the richest part] of their sacrifices [offerings to God] and drank the wine [fermented drink] of their drink offerings [libations, ceremonial drinks]? Let them rise up [stand and take action] and help you [assist and support]; let them give you shelter [be your protection, refuge]! word study 39 See now [at this time, in this moment] that I [the one true God, Elohim] am He [the self-existent One]; there is no God [no other divine being, no Elohim] besides Me [with Me, in My presence]. I bring death [cause to die, put to death] and I give life [cause to live, make alive]; I wound [severely hurt, shatter] and I heal [restore to health, mend], and there is no one [nothing] who can deliver [rescue, snatch away] from My hand [My power, My authority]. word study 40 For [as a sign of oath or covenant] I lift up [raise, exalt] My hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] to [toward, directing] heaven [the celestial realm, God’s dwelling place] and declare [solemnly affirm, testify]: As surely as [in the same way that, just as] I live [am alive, have eternal life] forever [for all eternity, perpetually], word study 41 when I sharpen [whet, make sharp] My flashing [glittering, shining] sword, and My hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] grasps it in judgment [justice, righteous decision], I will take vengeance [revenge, punishment] on My adversaries [enemies, those who oppose Me] and repay [render, give back] those who hate [feel intense dislike, are hostile] Me. word study 42 I will make My arrows [drenched, intoxicated] drunk with blood, while My sword [cutting instrument, devourer] devours flesh [human bodies, mortal lives]— the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] of the slain [killed, profaned] and captives [prisoners, those held in bondage], the heads [the topmost part of the body] of the enemy [adversary, one who hates] leaders [commanders, those in charge].” word study 43 Rejoice [sing with joy, shout for triumph], O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s [Elohim, the supreme Creator] angels worship [bow down, pay homage] Him. Rejoice [celebrate with praise], O nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], with His people [Amaw, a people or nation]; for He will avenge [take revenge, punish] the blood [life] of His children [servants, those who serve Him]. He will take vengeance [revenge, punishment] on His adversaries [enemies, those who oppose] and repay [give back, recompense] those who hate [reject, despise] Him; He will cleanse [purify, make atone] His land [earth, soil, territory] and His people [Amaw, a people or nation]. word study 44 Then Moses [the Israelite leader] came with Joshua [Hoshea] son of Nun and recited [spoke, declared] all the words [things, matters] of this [the present] song [musical expression of praise] in the hearing [ears, presence] of the people [nation, community]. word study 45 When Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] had finished [to end, completing a task] reciting [to speak, communicate] all [everything, the whole] these [specific, particular] words [things, matters, affairs] to [toward, directing] all [every, the entire] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], word study 46 he said to them, “Take to heart [set your minds on, consider carefully] all these words I testify [bear witness to, affirm] among you today, so that you may command [give orders to, instruct] your children to carefully follow [obey, keep] all the words of this law [instruction, divine guidance]. word study 47 For they are not [vain, without purpose] idle words to you, because they are your [eternal, spiritual] life, and by them [through obedience to these commands] you will live long [prolong your days, experience a long and blessed life] in the land that you are crossing the Jordan [the river that separates the wilderness from the promised land] to possess [take ownership of, inhabit as an inheritance].” word study 48 On that same day [the selfsame day, in this self-same day] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [spoke, communicated] to Moses [the Israelite leader, the one who received the law], word study 49 “Go up [ascend, climb] into the Abarim Range [mountainous region, eastern mountains] to Mount Nebo [the mountain of prophecy], in the land [territory, region] of Moab [descendants of Lot] across from [facing, opposite] Jericho [city of palms], and view [see, gaze upon] the land [earth, territory] of Canaan [promised land, inheritance], which I [the Lord] am giving [bestowing, granting] to the Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s people] as their own possession [inheritance, heritage]. word study 50 And there [in that place, at that time] on the mountain [a high elevation] that you [as an individual, Moses] climb [to ascend, to go up], you will die [to cease living, to pass away] and be gathered [to be brought together, to be united] to your people [your nation, your family], just as your brother [your male sibling, your close relative] Aaron [the first high priest] died [to pass away, to cease living] on Mount Hor [a mountain peak, a boundary mark] and was gathered [to be brought together, to be united] to his people [his nation, his family]. word study 51 For at the waters [source of refreshment, liquid] of Meribah-kadesh [place of provocation, quarrel] in the Wilderness [desert, open field] of Zin, both of you broke faith [were unfaithful, trespassed] with Me among the Israelites [sons of Jacob, descendants] by failing to treat Me as holy [set Me apart, consecrate] in their presence [midst, center]. word study 52 Although you shall see [before thee] from a distance the land [the promised territory, a country] that I am giving [to possess, to bestow] the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], you shall not [never, under no circumstances] enter [go into, approach] it [the land, the territory].” word study