Deuteronomy 10

Then God said to me, ‘Cut two stone tablets like the first ones and make a wooden chest to put them in. Then {bring the tablets} up to me on this mountain.

I will write on those tablets the same words that I wrote on the first tablets, the ones that you broke. Then you can put them in the chest.’ \*

So I made a chest. I used wood from an acacia tree to make it. I cut two stone tablets like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain carrying the tablets.

There God wrote on the tablets the {same} Ten Commandments {that he had written on the first tablets}. They are the commandments that he had spoken to your parents from the midst of the fire on the mountain. This was when they had gathered {at the bottom of the mountain}. Then God gave the tablets to me. \*

{Carrying the tablets}, I went down the mountain. Then, just as he had commanded, I put them in the chest that I had made and they are still there.” \*

(Then, from Beeroth Bene Jaakan, the Israelite people traveled to Moserah. There Aaron died and people buried him. His son Eleazar took his place and became the great priest.

From there, the Israelites traveled to Gudgodah. From there, they traveled to Jotbathah, which was a place that had many streams. \*

At that time, God chose the tribe of Levi to carry the sacred chest {that had the stone tablets}, stand in God’s presence {in the sacred tent}, offer sacrifices, and pray for God to bless {the people}. They are still doing those things at the present time.

That is the reason that the tribe of Levi did not receive any land like the other tribes did. What they received was the honor of being God’s {priests}. This is according to what he said they should do.) \*

{Moses continued to speak,} “As for me, I stayed on the mountain 40 days and nights, just like I did the first time. {I prayed,} and God answered my prayers again. He said that he would not destroy your families.

Then God said to me, ‘Continue your journey and lead the people to occupy the land. This is the land that I solemnly promised your ancestors that I would give to you.’ \*

Now, you Israelite people, I will tell you what God our God says that you do. He requires you to honor him, to conduct your lives as he wants you to, to love him, and to serve him with all that you desire and all that you feel,

and to obey all of his commandments which I am giving to you today. This is for your benefit. \*

Be aware that God our God owns even the sky and everything that is in it. He also owns the earth and everything that is on it.

But {although he owns all those things}, God also loved our ancestors. From all the peoples {on the earth} he chose us, their descendants, and we are still his people. \*

You must humble yourself and obey God’s covenant. Stop being stubborn!

God our God is greater than all gods, and he is greater than all rulers. He is very powerful. He is impartial, and he does not accept bribes. \*

He makes sure that people treat orphans and widows fairly. He loves even foreigners who live among us Israelite people. He gives them food and clothes.

So you must love those foreigners too. This is because you were once foreigners when you were living in Egypt. \*

You must deeply respect God our God, and you must worship him alone. Be faithful to him. When you make a solemn oath, say that he should punish you if you do not do what you have promised.

He is the one whom you must praise. He is our God. We have seen the great and awesome things that he has done for us. \*

When our ancestors, {Jacob and his family}, went down to Egypt, there were only 70 of them. But now God our God has caused us to be as numerous as the stars in the sky. \*