1. The Lord your God has directed me to teach you his commands, rules and laws. Obey them in the land you will take over when you go across the Jordan River.
2. Then you, your children and their children after them will have respect for the Lord your God as long as you live. Keep all of his rules and commands I'm giving you. If you do, you will enjoy long life.
3. Israel , listen to me. Make sure you obey me. Then things will go well with you. Your numbers will increase greatly in a land that has plenty of milk and honey. That's what the Lord, the God of your parents, promised you.
4. Israel , listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is the one and only God.
5. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength.
6. The commandments I give you today must be in your hearts.
7. Make sure your children learn them. Talk about them when you are at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Speak about them when you go to bed. And speak about them when you get up.
8. Write them down and tie them on your hands as a reminder. Also tie them on your foreheads.
9. Write them on the doorframes of your houses. Also write them on your gates.
10. The Lord your God will bring you into the land of Canaan. He took an oath. He promised he would give the land to your fathers. He promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The land has large, wealthy cities you didn't build.
11. It has houses that are filled with all kinds of good things you didn't provide. It has wells you didn't dig. And it has vineyards and groves of olive trees you didn't plant. You will have plenty to eat.
12. But be careful that you don't forget the Lord. Remember that he brought you out of Egypt. That's the land where you were slaves.