Discretion will preserve you

Sometimes, in the presence of a hostile crowd, or even among casual friends who are non-believers,  we might not speak up so much about our Lord. We may feel guilty for not standing up for the Lord, because of our fear of being ridiculed. Then perhaps there is a verse which we can take comfort from, though this is by no means an exemption for us to suppress the gospel.

The verse "Discretion will preserve you", is all the more important when those around us make actually cause some harm after hearing about the gospel. In that case, their is a valid cause for discretion. Looking at the context of the passage, it appears that the situation is where one is surrounded by those who are evil and perverse in thinking and in deeds.


Proverbs 10
10 When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;

No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God

Jesus sends out his disciples with power and authority and they were expected to cast out demons and cure diseases, as they were preaching. Meanwhile Herod heard about Jesus and was interested in seeing whether Jesus was a resurrected John the Baptist or Elijah. The disciples returned to Jesus from their ministry, so we see that Jesus did commission His disciples while He was still on earth. Soon the crowd came to Jesus to listen and get healed. This led to the miraculous feeding of the five thousand men, with five loaves and two fish.

After this Jesus was alone praying and joined with His disciples. He asked them who they thought He was and Peter said Jesus is the Christ. Then Jesus taught them about His death and resurrection and that His followers would also need to suffer - like "taking up the cross".

The transfiguration of Jesus is described here in more detail. The two men seen with Jesus were Moses and Elijah. During this, it seemed Peter woke up and asked Jesus if they should build a tabernacle. Then a cloud also engulfed the disciples as they were seemingly involved in this transfiguration. It is then that a voice from God confirmed that Jesus is the Son and asked them to listen to Him.

Jesus was asked to help a boy who was possessed because they had asked the disciples and they could not cast out the demons. Jesus commented about their lack of faith, then cast out the demon. He also told them again of his death and resurrection but they did not understand. He also explained to them the principle of servant hood after seeing their disciples trying to gain higher positions. Jesus also teach them that anyone who is not against them is with them, so they do not go against other groups preaching the good news.

When Jesus group was rejected by a Samaritan village, some of the disciples wanted to call down judgment on the village like Elijah, but Jesus made it clear that His mission is about salvation, not judgment at that time. Along the way Jesus called a few people to follow Him. They agreed but wanted to settle some of their business first. Then Jesus taught that whoever looks back on their lives, are not fit for the kingdom of God.







Luke 9
Sending Out the Twelve

1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Herod Seeks to See Jesus

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

Feeding the Five Thousand

10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”

And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men.

Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. 33 Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son.[b] Hear Him!” 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

A Boy Is Healed

37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. 38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.

But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

Who Is the Greatest?

46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

Jesus Forbids Sectarianism

49 Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us[c] is on our side.”[d]

A Samaritan Village Rejects the Savior

51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”[e]

55 But He turned and rebuked them,[f] and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”[g] And they went to another village.

The Cost of Discipleship

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god

The prophet Habakkuk appears to be living in terrible situation. He asks God how long before the injustice is corrected by God. God told him that he will be using the emerging nation of the Chaldeans or Babylonians, to execute judgment on the disobedient people. The Chaldeans are described as faster than leopards and fiercer than wolves.

Habakkuk responds with another question. He questions why God created so many people and yet they are not given a clear leader. Left to their own resourcefulness and success, they became drawn to other idols and believe in their own achievements rather than thanking God for it. It seems that Habakkuk is asking why God let it happen if it leads to idolatry and arrogant disobedience.





Habakkuk 1

1 The burden[a] which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

The Prophet’s Question

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.
3 Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.


The Lord’s Reply

5 “Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans,
A bitter and hasty nation
Which marches through the breadth of the earth,
To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
7 They are terrible and dreadful;
Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.
8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards,
And more fierce than evening wolves.
Their chargers charge ahead;
Their cavalry comes from afar;
They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.
9 “They all come for violence;
Their faces are set like the east wind.
They gather captives like sand.
10 They scoff at kings,
And princes are scorned by them.
They deride every stronghold,
For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.
11 Then his mind[b] changes, and he transgresses;
He commits offense,
Ascribing this power to his god.”


The Prophet’s Second Question

12 Are You not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
We shall not die.
O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment;
O Rock, You have marked them for correction.
13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
And cannot look on wickedness.
Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,
And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours
A person more righteous than he?
14 Why do You make men like fish of the sea,
Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?
15 They take up all of them with a hook,
They catch them in their net,
And gather them in their dragnet.
Therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net,
And burn incense to their dragnet;
Because by them their share is sumptuous
And their food plentiful.
17 Shall they therefore empty their net,
And continue to slay nations without pity?

For Surely There Is A Hereafter, And Your Hope Will Not Be Cut Off.

The first section seems to be teaching us not only manners but perhaps to be mindful of our position in the presence of a king or authority. It also discourages us to envy or covetousness. In addition it also warns that sometimes we will be offered things by people who do not really mean it. Several verses later, food is again used to illustrate and teach about being wise and in control of our wants and also to increase our understanding.

The next topic is not to withold discipline from children - the verses are:
13 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.[b]

Another set of verses teaching us how we should relate to our mother and father.
22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.



Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you;

2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite.

3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food.

4 Do not overwork to be rich;
Because of your own understanding, cease!

5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not?
For riches certainly make themselves wings;
They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

6 Do not eat the bread of a miser,[a]
Nor desire his delicacies;

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.

8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up,
And waste your pleasant words.

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

10 Do not remove the ancient landmark,
Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;

11 For their Redeemer is mighty;
He will plead their cause against you.

12 Apply your heart to instruction,
And your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Do not withhold correction from a child,
For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.

14 You shall beat him with a rod,
And deliver his soul from hell.[b]

15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself;

16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak right things.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;

18 For surely there is a hereafter,
And your hope will not be cut off.

19 Hear, my son, and be wise;
And guide your heart in the way.

20 Do not mix with winebibbers,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

22 Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.

25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart,
And let your eyes observe my ways.

27 For a harlot is a deep pit,
And a seductress is a narrow well.

28 She also lies in wait as for a victim,
And increases the unfaithful among men.

29 Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?

30 Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.

31 Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;

32 At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.

33 Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.

34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:

35 “They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

The Borrower is Servant to the Lender

There is a collection of sayings from various topics. One of the recurring topics with multiple sayings within this chapter is about wealth. More specifically it is the Kingdom's view of wealth and how we should approach it. The sayings and comments are given here:

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
- before even thinking of getting wealthy, build character and integrity first.

7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
- avoid being in debt, this is something which modern society should practise in hindsight of the Global Financial Crisis.

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
- generosity to the needy is highly valued by the Lord.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
- gain wealth through proper means, not disadvantaging or cheating others.

26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?
- be wise and avoid being a guarantor.





Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common,
The Lord is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.

4 By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,
And the rod of his anger will fail.

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

11 He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;
I have instructed you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,

21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?

22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a furious man do not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.

26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is surety for debts;

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.

The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life

The sayings continue about the actions and consequences of the wise over those who are foolish. Again the foolish does things which displeases God and have a twisted view of things, leading to wickedness. The wise are prudent and understands things, and ultimately submits to God.

A few favourite quotes are:
- The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
- There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
- The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
- He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,



Proverbs 14
1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.[a]

15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter[b] leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive[c] exalts folly.

30 A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Song of Moses

Like a big portion of Deuteronomy, the chapter below describes God's faithfulness in choosing and bringing Israel out of Egypt and their subsequent corruption. However this chapter is presented as a song so that Israel can remember. So read below again and be reminded of what God told Israel.

A few interesting points include God referred to Israel as the "Apple of His eye". Although God's faithfulness and warnings below can be applied to us, we need to understand that the passage below specifically describes Israel and cannot be replaced by Christians. Again, the passage can teach us lessons but does not replace Israel with Christians since it is clear from the details below that God refers to Israel.

The passage is also prophetic because the corruption of Israel and its subsequent disintegration is yet to happen when Moses wrote Deuteronomy, inspired by God. God provided for Israel, and we know God is patient. So what did Israel do that provoked God so much? One of the key sins that God finds abominable is from v15 onwards:

15    Then he forsook God who made him,
      And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

16 They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;
      With abominations they provoked Him to anger.

17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
      To gods they did not know,
      To new gods, new arrivals
      That your fathers did not fear.

We see clearly the purpose of the song as Joshua ends the song by encouraging the Israelites to be careful to observe all the Laws of God. So the Israelites have been given a glimpse of their bleak future which they can avoid by obeying God.

One last comment to refute the Replacement Theory is that in verse 40, God calls on the Gentiles (non-Israelites) to rejoice with the Israelites when God will bring vengeance on the nations that harm Israel. Clearly God knows who He is talking to and that this passage events describe those of the Israelites but God's will is for the Gentiles who believe in Him to have a role in this.


Deuteronomy 32

 1 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
      And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

 2 Let my teaching drop as the rain,
      My speech distill as the dew,
      As raindrops on the tender herb,
      And as showers on the grass.

 3 For I proclaim the name of the LORD:
      Ascribe greatness to our God.

 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
      For all His ways are justice,
      A God of truth and without injustice;
      Righteous and upright is He.

 5 “They have corrupted themselves;
      They are not His children,
      Because of their blemish:
      A perverse and crooked generation.

 6 Do you thus deal with the LORD,
      O foolish and unwise people?
      Is He not your Father, who bought you?
      Has He not made you and established you?

 7 “ Remember the days of old,
      Consider the years of many generations.
      Ask your father, and he will show you;
      Your elders, and they will tell you:

 8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations,
      When He separated the sons of Adam,
      He set the boundaries of the peoples
      According to the number of the children of Israel.

 9 For the LORD’s portion is His people;
      Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

 10 “He found him in a desert land
      And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
      He encircled him, He instructed him,
      He kept him as the apple of His eye.

 11 As an eagle stirs up its nest,
      Hovers over its young,
      Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
      Carrying them on its wings,

 12 So the LORD alone led him,
      And there was no foreign god with him.

 13 “He made him ride in the heights of the earth,
      That he might eat the produce of the fields;
      He made him draw honey from the rock,
      And oil from the flinty rock;

 14 Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock,
      With fat of lambs;
      And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats,
      With the choicest wheat;
      And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes.

 15 “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked;
      You grew fat, you grew thick,
      You are obese!
      Then he forsook God who made him,
      And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

 16 They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;
      With abominations they provoked Him to anger.

 17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
      To gods they did not know,
      To new gods, new arrivals
      That your fathers did not fear.

 18 Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful,
      And have forgotten the God who fathered you.

 19 “And when the LORD saw it, He spurned them,
      Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters.

 20 And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them,
      I will see what their end will be,
      For they are a perverse generation,
      Children in whom is no faith.

 21 They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God;
      They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols.
      But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation;
      I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.

 22 For a fire is kindled in My anger,
      And shall burn to the lowest hell;
      It shall consume the earth with her increase,


 23 ‘I will heap disasters on them;
      I will spend My arrows on them.

 24 They shall be wasted with hunger,
      Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction;
      I will also send against them the teeth of beasts,
      With the poison of serpents of the dust.

 25 The sword shall destroy outside;
      There shall be terror within
      For the young man and virgin,
      The nursing child with the man of gray hairs.

 26 I would have said, “I will dash them in pieces,
      I will make the memory of them to cease from among men,”

 27 Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy,
      Lest their adversaries should misunderstand,
      Lest they should say, “Our hand is high;
      And it is not the LORD who has done all this.”’

 28 “For they are a nation void of counsel,
      Nor is there any understanding in them.

 29 Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
      That they would consider their latter end!

 30 How could one chase a thousand,
      And two put ten thousand to flight,
      Unless their Rock had sold them,
      And the LORD had surrendered them?

 31 For their rock is not like our Rock,
      Even our enemies themselves being judges.

 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom
      And of the fields of Gomorrah;
      Their grapes are grapes of gall,
      Their clusters are bitter.

 33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,
      And the cruel venom of cobras.

 34 ‘Is this not laid up in store with Me,
      Sealed up among My treasures?

 35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
      Their foot shall slip in due time;
      For the day of their calamity is at hand,
      And the things to come hasten upon them.’

 36 “For the LORD will judge His people
      And have compassion on His servants,
      When He sees that their power is gone,
      And there is no one remaining, bond or free.

 37 He will say: ‘Where are their gods,
      The rock in which they sought refuge?

 38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
      And drank the wine of their drink offering?
      Let them rise and help you,
      And be your refuge.

 39 ‘Now see that I, even I, am He,
      And there is no God besides Me;
      I kill and I make alive;
      I wound and I heal;
      Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

 40 For I raise My hand to heaven,
      And say, “As I live forever,

 41 If I whet My glittering sword,
      And My hand takes hold on judgment,
      I will render vengeance to My enemies,
      And repay those who hate Me.

 42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
      And My sword shall devour flesh,
      With the blood of the slain and the captives,
      From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.”’

 43 “ Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;[a]
      For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
      And render vengeance to His adversaries;
      He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”
44 So Moses came with Joshua[b] the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”

Moses to Die on Mount Nebo
  
48 Then the LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; 50 and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; 51 because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”