New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 When all these things have happened to you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, if you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you,
1
Here's what will happen. While you're out among the nations where God has dispersed you and the blessings and curses come in just the way I have set them before you, and you and your children take them seriously
2 and return to the Lord your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today,
2
and come back to God, your God, and obey him with your whole heart and soul according to everything that I command you today,
3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you.
3
God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he'll have compassion on you; he'll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered.
4 Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back.
4
No matter how far away you end up, God, your God, will get you out of there
5 The Lord your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.
5
and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors.
6 Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.
6
God, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children's hearts, freeing you to love God, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live.
7 The Lord your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on the adversaries who took advantage of you.
7
God, your God, will put all these curses on your enemies who hated you and were out to get you.
8 Then you shall again obey the Lord, observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today,
8
And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God, keeping all his commandments that I'm commanding you today.
9 and the Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors,
9
God, your God, will outdo himself in making things go well for you: you'll have babies, get calves, grow crops, and enjoy an all-around good life. Yes, God will start enjoying you again, making things go well for you just as he enjoyed doing it for your ancestors.
10 when you obey the Lord your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
10
But only if you listen obediently to God, your God, and keep the commandments and regulations written in this Book of Revelation. Nothing halfhearted here; you must return to God, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back.
11 Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away.
11
This commandment that I'm commanding you today isn't too much for you, it's not out of your reach.
12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?"
12
It's not on a high mountain - you don't have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it.
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?"
13
And it's not across the ocean - you don't have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it.
14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
14
No. The word is right here and now - as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!
15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.
15
Look at what I've done for you today: I've placed in front of you Life and Good Death and Evil.
16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.
16
And I command you today: Love God, your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them,
17
But I warn you: If you have a change of heart, refuse to listen obediently, and willfully go off to serve and worship other gods,
18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
18
you will most certainly die. You won't last long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
19
I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live.
20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
20
And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself, a long life settled on the soil that God, your God, promised to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.