Deuteronomy 31: Be Strong and Courageous

Moses, now 120 years old, tells Israel that Joshua will lead them across the Jordan, and that God Himself goes before them. He encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous. Moses writes the law and commands that it be read to everyone every seven years. God warns that Israel will turn away, so Moses writes a song to be a witness, and gives the book of the law to the Levites to keep beside the ark.

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Read Deuteronomy 31

World English Bible · 30 verses

¹ Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² He said to them, “I am one hundred twenty years old today. I can no more go out and come in. Yahweh has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Yahweh your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua will go over before you, as Yahweh has spoken.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Yahweh will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Yahweh will deliver them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which Yahweh has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Yahweh himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and to all the elders of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of booths,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ when all Israel has come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and the foreigners who are within your gates, that they may hear, learn, fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ and that their children, who have not known, may hear and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him.” Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Yahweh appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the Tent’s door.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers. This people will rise up and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land where they go to be among them, and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Haven’t these evils come on us because our God is not among us?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ “Now therefore write 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ It will happen, when many evils and troubles have come on them, that this song will testify before them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten out of the mouths of their descendants; for I know their ways and what they are doing today, before I have brought them into the land which I promised them.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them. I will be with you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ “Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of Yahweh your God’s covenant, that it may be there for a witness against you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. How much more after my death?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Deuteronomy 31 · Preschool

God Goes Before You

Name Date

Color Moses, Joshua, and the ark! God goes in front of His people.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

Yahweh himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: When we are scared, God goes before us and stays with us.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Deuteronomy 31 · Grade 4

Passing the Torch

Name Date

Read and Think

Deuteronomy 31 prepares for the change from Moses to Joshua. At 120, Moses would not enter the land. But the real leader would not change: Yahweh your God himself would go over before you. The promise He will not fail you nor forsake you is repeated in Hebrews 13:5 for every believer.

Moses publicly charged Joshua to be strong and courageous. He then wrote the law and arranged for it to be read every seven years to the whole community, including children and foreigners. Each new generation must hear God's word.

God warned that Israel would break His covenant after Moses' death. He told Moses to write a song as a witness against them, so they could not say they had not been warned. The book of the law was placed beside the ark as a lasting testimony.

Show What You Know

Who was the real leader of Israel?
Where is the promise He will not fail you repeated?
Why was the law read every seven years?
Why was the song written?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

forsakeJoshuasevenstrongGod

Deuteronomy 31 prepares for the change from Moses to .
But the real leader would not change: Yahweh your himself would go over before you.
The promise He will not fail you nor you is repeated in Hebrews 13:5 for every believer.
Moses publicly charged Joshua to be and courageous.
He then wrote the law and arranged for it to be read every years to the whole community, including children and foreigners.

Think About It

When have you needed courage? How does God's promise to be with you help?
Why is it important for children to hear God's word read aloud?

Memory Verse

Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for going before me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can a song help you remember what God says?
What does it mean that God will not fail you nor forsake you?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Deuteronomy 31 · Grade 5

Strong and Courageous

Name Date

Read and Think

Deuteronomy 31 marks a turning point in leadership. Moses, 120 years old, could no longer go out and come in, and God had said he would not cross the Jordan. Yet he assured Israel that Yahweh himself would go before them to destroy the nations, and that Joshua would lead them over. The charge, Be strong and courageous, rested not on Israel's strength but on God's presence: he will not fail you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 applies this promise to all believers.

Moses wrote the law and entrusted it to the Levitical priests and elders. Every seventh year, at the Feast of Booths, it was to be read before all Israel, men, women, little ones, and foreigners, so that they may hear, learn to fear Yahweh, and observe it. Their children, who had not known, would also learn. Public reading of Scripture was central to Israel's faith, as it remains in the church (1 Timothy 4:13).

At the Tent of Meeting, God appeared in a pillar of cloud and told Moses plainly that Israel would turn to other gods. God commanded Moses to write a song and teach it, so that when troubles came, the song would testify against them as a witness. Moses commissioned Joshua, then gave the completed book of the law to the Levites to place beside the ark of the covenant. God's word would outlast its human messenger.

Show What You Know

What did the charge to be strong rest on?
Who would hear the law every seventh year?
What New Testament verse calls for public reading of Scripture?
Why did God command the song?
What would outlast its human messenger?

Crossword

Across

He would lead them over.
Moses wrote this ____.

Down

The feast when the law was read.
He will not fail you nor ____ you.
Be ____ and courageous.

Think About It

God told Moses ahead of time that Israel would fail. Why would God still give them His law and His song?
Where do you need to be strong and courageous because God goes with you?

Memory Verse

Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for Yahweh your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for going before me. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How should knowing God goes ahead of you change how you face tomorrow?
How can you help someone younger be strong in faith?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Deuteronomy 31: Be Strong and Courageous

Read Deuteronomy 31

Worksheets

God Goes Before You

Prayer

Take It Home

Be Brave

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is With You

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Moses Hands Over

Prayer

Take It Home

Do Not Be Afraid

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

God Will Not Fail You

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Moses Hands Over

Prayer

Take It Home

Passing the Torch

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Strong and Courageous

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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