Deuteronomy 31:21
19 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.
20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.
22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”
- KJV
- And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.
- WEB
- 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.”
- ASV
- And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are come upon them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.
- DARBY
- And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles have befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed; for I know their imagination which they are forming already this day, before I bring them into the land which I have sworn [unto them].
- BLB
- And it shall come to pass when many evils and distresses have come upon him, that this song will testify to his face as a witness, for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of his seed. For I know the inclination that he is doing today, even before I bring him to the land of which I have sworn.”
- ÅB
- Når da mange ulykker og trengsler kommer over dem, da skal denne sang lyde for dem som et vitne - den skal ikke glemmes hos dem som kommer etter, og ikke dø i deres munn. For jeg kjenner de tanker som de går med allerede nå, før jeg fører dem inn i det land jeg har tilsvoret dem.
- OTB
- Når mange ulykker og katastrofer kommer over dem, vil denne sangen vitne mot dem, fordi den ikke vil bli glemt av deres etterkommere. Jeg vet hva de er tilbøyelige til å gjøre, selv før Jeg fører dem inn i det landet Jeg sverget til dem.»
- B1930
- Når da mange ulykker og trengsler kommer over dem, da skal denne sang lyde for dem som et vidne - den skal ikke glemmes hos dem som kommer efter, og ikke dø i deres munn. For jeg kjenner de tanker som de går med allerede nu, før jeg fører dem inn i det land jeg har tilsvoret dem.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 5:3
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.
Read in contextJohn 2:24–25
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
Read in contextGenesis 6:5
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Read in contextPsalms 139:2
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Read in contextHosea 13:5–6
I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
Read in contextAmos 5:25–26
Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
Read in contextActs 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Read in contextActs 4:28
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Read in context