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Monday, September 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bishop's Bible

Deuteronomy 31:19

Nowe therfore write ye this song for you, and teache it the children of Israel, and put it in their mouthes, that this song may be my witnesse agaynst the children of Israel.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Death;   Idolatry;   Instruction;   Minister, Christian;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Law;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Education;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Prophet, Christ as;   Testimony;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Preaching;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hilkiah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jasher;   Joshua;   Writing;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Deuteronomy, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deuteronomy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Admonition;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Preaching;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bible, the;   Moses;   Mouth;   Witness;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Commandments, the 613;   Hafṭarah;   Joshua, Book of;   Scroll of the Law;   Sidra;   Song of Moses;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore write down this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; have them sing it, so that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.
Hebrew Names Version
Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach you it the children of Yisra'el: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Yisra'el.
King James Version
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Lexham English Bible
"And so then write this song for yourselves and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouth, so that this song may be for me as a witness against the Israelites.
English Standard Version
"Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
New Century Version
"Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites. Then have them sing it, because it will be my witness against them.
New English Translation
Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!
Amplified Bible
"Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it in their mouth, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.
New American Standard Bible
"Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouthes, that this song may be my witnesse against the children of Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
"So now, write this song for yourselves and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.
Contemporary English Version
Moses and Joshua, I am going to give you the words to a new song. Write them down and teach the song to the Israelites. If they learn it, they will know what I want them to do, and so they will have no excuse for not obeying me.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the people of Isra'el. Have them learn it by heart, so that this song can be a witness for me against the people of Isra'el.
Darby Translation
And now, write ye this song, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
"So write down this song, and teach it to the Israelites. Teach them to sing this song. Then this song will be a witness for me against the Israelites.
George Lamsa Translation
Now therefore write this song for them, and teach it to the children of Israel; and put it into their mouths; this song will be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Good News Translation
"Now, write down this song. Teach it to the people of Israel, so that it will stand as evidence against them.
Literal Translation
Now, then, write this song for you, and teach it to the sons of Israel. Put it in their mouths, so that this song shall be for a witness to Me against the sons of Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wryte now therfore this songe, & teach it the children of Israel, and put it in their mouth, that this songe maye be a witnesse vnto me amonge the children of Israel.
American Standard Version
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Bible in Basic English
Make then this song for yourselves, teaching it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.
King James Version (1611)
Now therefore, write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouthes, that this song may be a witnesse for mee, against the children of Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And now write the words of this song, and teach it to the children of Israel, and ye shall put it into their mouth, that this song may witness for me among the children of Israel to their face.
English Revised Version
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Now therfor write ye to you this song, and `teche ye the sones of Israel, that thei holde it in mynde, and synge bi mouth; and that this song be to me for a witnessyng among the sones of Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
`And now, write for you this song, and teach it the sons of Israel; put it in their mouths, so that this song is to Me for a witness against the sons of Israel,
Update Bible Version
Now therefore you write this song for yourselves, and you teach it to the sons of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the sons of Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it to the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
World English Bible
Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach you it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
New King James Version
"Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel.
New Living Translation
"So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.
New Life Bible
So write this song for yourselves. Teach it to the people of Israel. Put it on their lips, so this song may speak for Me against all the people of Israel.
New Revised Standard
Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouths, in order that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, therefore write ye for you this Song, and teach it unto the sons of Israel put it in their mouths, - that this Song may become for me a witness against the sons of Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore write you this canticle, and teach the children of Israel: that they may know it by heart, and sing it by mouth, and this song may be unto me for a testimony among the children of Israel.
Revised Standard Version
Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel.
THE MESSAGE
"But for right now, copy down this song and teach the People of Israel to sing it by heart. They'll have it then as my witness against them. When I bring them into the land that I promised to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey, and they eat and become full and get fat and then begin fooling around with other gods and worshiping them, and then things start falling apart, many terrible things happening, this song will be there with them as a witness to who they are and what went wrong. Their children won't forget this song; they'll be singing it. Don't think I don't know what they are already scheming to do, and they're not even in the land yet, this land I promised them."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

Contextual Overview

14 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Beholde, thy dayes are come that thou must dye: Call Iosuah therfore, and stande ye in the tabernacle of the congregatio, that I may geue him a charge. And Moyses and Iosuah went & stood in the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the Lorde appeared in the tabernacle, euen in the piller of the cloude: and the piller of the cloude stoode ouer the doore of the tabernacle. 16 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses: Beholde, thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, and this people wyll ryse vp, and go a whoryng after straunge gods of the lande whyther they go, and wyll forsake me, and breake the appoyntmet which I haue made with them. 17 And then my wrath wyll waxe hot against them in that day, & I wil forsake them, & wyll hide my face from them, and they shalbe consumed, and much aduersitie and tribulations shall come vpon them, so that then they wyll say: Are not these troubles come vpon me, because God is not with me? 18 And I also wyll surely hyde away my face in that day, for all the euyls sake which they shall haue wrought, in that they are turned vnto straunge gods. 19 Nowe therfore write ye this song for you, and teache it the children of Israel, and put it in their mouthes, that this song may be my witnesse agaynst the children of Israel. 20 For I wyll bryng them into the lande which I sware vnto their fathers, that floweth with mylke and honye: and they shall eate, and fyll them selues, and waxe fat, and turne vnto strauge gods, and serue them, and blaspheme me, and breake my couenaunt. 21 And when much mischiefe and tribulation is come vpon them, this song shall aunswere them as a witnesse: For it shall not be forgotten out of the mouthes of their seede: for I knowe their imagination, which they go about euen nowe, before I haue brought the into the lande which I sware.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

this song: Deuteronomy 31:22, Deuteronomy 31:30, Deuteronomy 32:1-43, Deuteronomy 32:44, Deuteronomy 32:45

and teach it: Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 4:10, Deuteronomy 6:7, Deuteronomy 11:19

put it in their: Exodus 4:15, 2 Samuel 14:3, Isaiah 51:16, Isaiah 59:21, Jeremiah 1:9

a witness: Deuteronomy 31:21, Deuteronomy 31:26, Ezekiel 2:5, Matthew 10:18, John 12:48

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:44 - a witness Numbers 5:23 - write these Numbers 17:10 - for a token Joshua 24:27 - General Esther 9:20 - wrote these Psalms 50:7 - testify Psalms 102:18 - This Psalms 111:4 - He hath Isaiah 5:1 - Now Isaiah 30:8 - write Isaiah 44:21 - Remember Jeremiah 22:29 - General Jeremiah 30:2 - General Daniel 2:28 - in the Habakkuk 2:2 - Write 2 Peter 1:15 - I will Revelation 1:11 - What

Cross-References

Genesis 31:4
Therfore Iacob sent, & called Rachel and Lea to the fielde vnto his flocke,
Genesis 31:5
And sayde vnto them: I see your fathers countenauce that it is not toward me as it was wont to be: but the God of my father hath ben with me.
Genesis 31:14
Then aunswered Rachel, and Lea, and said vnto him: haue we had as yet any portion or inheritaunce in our fathers house?
Genesis 31:24
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dreame by nyght, and sayd vnto him: take heede that thou speake not to Iacob ought saue good.
Genesis 31:30
And nowe though thou wouldest nedes be gone away, because thou sore longest after thy fathers house, yet wherfore hast thou stollen my gods?
Genesis 31:32
But with whomsoeuer thou findest thy gods, let hym dye. Here before our brethren, seeke that thyne is by me, and take it to thee: But Iacob wyst not that Rachel had stolen them.
Genesis 31:34
And Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camelles strawe, & sate downe vpon them: And Laban tossed vp all ye tent, but found them not.
Genesis 35:2
Then sayde Iacob vnto his householde, and to all that were with hym: put away the straunge gods that are among you, and be cleane, and chaunge your garmentes.
Joshua 24:2
And Iosuah sayde vnto al the people, Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the fludde in olde time, euen Thare the father of Abraham and of Nachor, and serued straunge goddes.
Judges 18:31
And they set them vp the carued image which Micah made, all the while that the house of God was in Silo.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now, therefore, write ye this song for you,.... Which was now dictated by the Lord, and given to Moses and Joshua to write, which is recorded in Deuteronomy 32:1:

and teach it the children of Israel; teach them by it, instructing them in the meaning of it: thus it was usual in ancient times to write things in verses, that they might be the more pleasingly attended to and regarded, and be longer retained in memory; and especially this practice was used with children, and still is:

put it in their mouths; oblige them to get it by heart, or lay it up in their memories, and repeat it frequently, that it may be familiar to them, and not be forgotten by them:

that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel; when in times to come they shall call to mind how in this song they were cautioned against such and such sins, and what they were threatened with should befall them on account of them, and how all things have come to pass exactly as foretold in it; which would be a testimony for God of his goodness to them, of his tender care of them, and concern for them, in the previous cautions he gave them; and of his foreknowledge of future events; and a testimony against them for their ingratitude and other sins.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The transaction recorded in these verses may be regarded as the solemn inauguration of Joshua to the office to which he had some time before Numbers 27:22 been called, and his recognition in it by God, which were manifested by his being summoned into the tabernacle with Moses while the Lord appeared in the pillar of cloud (compare Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5).

Deuteronomy 31:16

The future apostasy of the people is announced in the presence of Joshua that the latter might be fully aware of the danger and strive in his day to avert it. This he faithfully did (compare Joshua 24:31); but we find him in his own last address to Israel repeating Joshua 23:15-16 the self-same prediction and warning.

Deuteronomy 31:19

A witness for me against them - i. e., an attestation from their own mouths at once of God’s benefits, their own duties, and their deserts when they should fall away. Being in verse it would be the more easily learned and kept in memory. The use of songs for such didactic purposes was not unknown to the legislators of antiquity. Compare also the advice of Paul, “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” Colossians 3:16.

Deuteronomy 31:23

He gave - i. e., the Lord gave.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Deuteronomy 31:19. Write ye this song — The song which follows in the next chapter. Things which were of great importance and of common concern were, among the ancients, put into verse, as this was found the best method of keeping them in remembrance, especially in those times when writing was little practised. Even prose was sometimes sung. The history of Herodotus was divided into NINE books, and each inscribed with the name of one of the NINE Muses, because these books were anciently sung. Homer is reported to have sung his poems through different Greek cities. Aristotle observes that anciently the people sung their laws. And Cicero observes that it was a custom among the ancient Romans to sing the praises of their heroes at the public festivals. This was the case among the northern inhabitants of Europe, particularly in Ireland and Scotland; hence the Gaelic poetry of Ossian and others. See Dodd; and Exodus 15:1; Exodus 15:1, where the subject is largely treated.


 
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