Study Desk

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you as a home,

"Tell the Israelites: ‘You are going to another land, where I am taking you.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.'"

But only you and your sons may serve as priests. Only you may serve at the altar or go behind the curtain. I am giving you this gift of serving as a priest, and anyone else who comes near the Holy Place will be put to death."

But the donkey said to Balaam, "I am your very own donkey, which you have ridden for years. Have I ever done this to you before?" "No," Balaam said.

Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord , "I have sinned; I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back."

Balak said to Balaam, "I had asked you before to come quickly. Why didn't you come to me? I am able to reward you well."

Now I am going back to my own people, but I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the future."

So tell Phinehas that I am making my peace agreement with him.

I am the Lord , and I live among the Israelites. I live in that land with you, so do not spoil it with murder.'"

At that time I said, "I am not able to take care of you by myself.

The Lord said, "Get up and cross the Arnon Ravine. See, I am giving you the power to defeat Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and I am giving you his land. So fight against him and begin taking his land.

And no other nation has such good teachings and commands as those I am giving to you today.

Obey his laws and commands that I am giving you today so that things will go well for you and your children. Then you will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God is giving to you forever.

Moses called all the people of Israel together and said: Listen, Israel, to the commands and laws I am giving you today. Learn them and obey them carefully.

"I am the Lord your God; I brought you out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves.

You must not worship or serve any idol, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. If people sin against me and hate me, I will punish their children, even their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

but you stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, rules, and laws that you must teach the people to obey in the land I am giving them as their own."

Be careful not to forget the Lord your God so that you fail to obey his commands, laws, and rules that I am giving to you today.

You might say to yourself, "I am rich because of my own power and strength,"