Deuteronomy · Darby Translation
Deuteronomy 4 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And now, Israel, hearken to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do [them], that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah the God of your fathers giveth you.
1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances which I teach you, to do them, that you may live and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you.
2 Ye shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall ye take from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.
2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.
3 Your eyes have seen what Jehovah did because of Baal-Peor; for all the men that followed Baal-Peor, Jehovah thy God hath destroyed them from among you;
3 Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal Peor; for Yahweh your God has destroyed all the men who followed Baal Peor from among you.
4 but ye that did cleave to Jehovah your God are alive every one of you this day.
4 But you who were faithful to Yahweh your God are all alive today.
5 See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Jehovah my God commanded me, that ye may do so in the land into which ye enter to possess it.
5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the middle of the land where you go in to possess it.
6 And ye shall keep and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Verily this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
7 For what great nation is there that hath God near to them as Jehovah our God is in everything we call upon him for?
7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him?
8 And what great nation is there that hath righteous statutes and ordinances, as all this law which I set before you this day?
8 What great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you today?
9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things that thine eyes have seen (and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but thou shalt make them known to thy sons and to thy sons' sons),
9 Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children—
10 the day that thou stoodest before Jehovah thy God in Horeb, when Jehovah said to me, Gather me the people together, that I may cause them to hear my words, that they may learn them, and fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and teach them to their children.
10 the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, “Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and obscurity.
11 You came near and stood under the mountain. The mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.
12 And Jehovah spoke to you from the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but ye saw no form; only [ye heard] a voice.
12 Yahweh spoke to you out of the middle of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice.
13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, the ten words; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.
13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets.
14 And Jehovah commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that ye might do them in the land whither ye are passing over to possess it.
14 Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it.
15 And take great heed to your souls (for ye saw no form on the day that Jehovah spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire),
15 Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire,
16 lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the form of any figure, the pattern of male or female,
16 lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself a carved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
17 the pattern of any beast that is on the earth, the pattern of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven,
17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
18 the pattern of anything that creepeth on the ground, the pattern of any fish that is in the waters under the earth;
18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth;
19 and lest thou lift up thine eyes to the heavens, and see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, the whole host of heaven, and be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath assigned unto all peoples under the whole heaven.
19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky.
20 But you hath Jehovah taken, and hath brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, that ye might be to him a people of inheritance, as it is this day.
20 But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today.
21 And Jehovah was angry with me on your account, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not enter in to that good land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance;
21 Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance;
22 for I shall die in this land, I shall not go over the Jordan; but ye shall go over, and possess this good land.
22 but I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and possess that good land.
23 Take heed to yourselves lest ye forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves a graven image, the form of anything which Jehovah thy God hath forbidden thee.
23 Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you.
24 For Jehovah thy God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
24 For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.
25 When thou begettest sons, and sons' sons, and ye have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, to provoke him to anger,
25 When you father children and children’s children, and you have been long in the land, and then corrupt yourselves, and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in Yahweh your God’s sight to provoke him to anger,
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye pass over the Jordan to possess it: ye shall not prolong your days on it, but shall be utterly destroyed.
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from off the land which you go over the Jordan to possess it. You will not prolong your days on it, but will utterly be destroyed.
27 And Jehovah will scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left a small company among the nations to which Jehovah will lead you.
27 Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Yahweh will lead you away.
28 And ye shall there serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
28 There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
29 And from thence ye shall seek Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt find him, if thou shalt seek him with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul.
29 But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you will find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
30 In thy tribulation, and when all these things shall come upon thee, at the end of days, thou shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and shalt hearken to his voice,
30 When you are in oppression, and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice.
31 — for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God, — he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore unto them.
31 For Yahweh your God is a merciful God. He will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.
32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been anything as this great thing is, or if anything hath been heard like it?
32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as great as this thing is, or has been heard like it?
33 Did [ever] people hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
33 Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live?
34 Or hath God essayed to come to take him a nation from the midst of a nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a powerful hand, and by a stretched-out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Jehovah your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
34 Or has God tried to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
35 Unto thee it was shewn, that thou mightest know that Jehovah, he is God — there is none other besides him.
35 It was shown to you so that you might know that Yahweh is God. There is no one else besides him.
36 From the heavens he made thee hear his voice, that he might instruct thee; and on the earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words from the midst of the fire.
36 Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, that he might instruct you. On earth he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire.
37 And because he loved thy fathers, and chose their seed after them, he brought thee out with his countenance, with his great power, out of Egypt,
37 Because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their offspring after them, and brought you out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt;
38 to dispossess nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.
38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today.
39 Thou shalt know therefore this day, and consider it in thy heart, that Jehovah, he is God in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath: [there is] none else.
39 Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that Yahweh himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no one else.
40 And thou shalt keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may be well with thee and with thy sons after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days on the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, for ever.
40 You shall keep his statutes and his commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for all time.
41 Then Moses separated three cities on this side the Jordan toward the sun-rising,
41 Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise,
42 that the manslayer might flee thither, who should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not previously, that fleeing to one of these cities, he might live:
42 that the man slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally and didn’t hate him in time past, and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
43 Bezer in the wilderness, in the plateau, of the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.
43 Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.
44 And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:
44 This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel.
45 these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances that Moses declared to the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt,
45 These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances which Moses spoke to the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt,
46 on this side the Jordan, in the valley opposite to Beth-Peor, in the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote when they came out of Egypt;
46 beyond the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel struck when they came out of Egypt.
47 and they took possession of his land, and the land of Og the king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, who were on this side the Jordan, toward the sun-rising;
47 They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;
48 from Aroer, which is on the bank of the river Arnon, as far as mount Sion, which is Hermon,
48 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Siyon (also called Hermon),
49 and all the plain on this side the Jordan, eastward, and as far as the sea of the plain, under the slopes of Pisgah.
49 and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Moses
Drawn from the Nile, he led Israel out of Egypt and received God's Law.
Cited in the guide: Exodus 2–Deuteronomy 34
Cross references (48)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Romans 10:5; Ezekiel 20:11; Deuteronomy 8:1; Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 5:1
- 2 Proverbs 30:6; Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18–19; Joshua 1:7; Matthew 5:18
- 3 Numbers 25:1–9; Psalm 106:28–29; Hosea 9:10; Numbers 26:64; Numbers 31:16
- 4 Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 23:8; John 6:67–69; Romans 12:9; Revelation 14:4
- 5 Matthew 28:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2; Hebrews 3:5; Deuteronomy 4:1; Proverbs 22:19–20
- 6 Psalm 111:10; Job 28:28; 2 Timothy 3:15; Proverbs 1:7; 1 Kings 10:6–9
- 7 Psalm 145:18; 2 Samuel 7:23; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 73:28; James 4:8
- 8 Psalm 147:19–20; Romans 7:12–14; Psalm 119:127–128; Psalm 119:86; Psalm 19:7–11
- 9 Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19; Psalm 78:3–8; Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 32:46
- 10 Exodus 19:9; Hebrews 12:18–19; Exodus 19:16; Deuteronomy 17:19; Exodus 20:20
- 11 Deuteronomy 5:23; Exodus 19:16–18; Hebrews 12:18–19; Exodus 20:18–19
- 12 Deuteronomy 5:4; Deuteronomy 5:22; Deuteronomy 4:15; John 12:28–30; Matthew 3:17
- 13 Exodus 34:28; Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:9–11; Exodus 24:12; Exodus 19:5
- 14 Ezekiel 21:1–23; Psalm 105:44–45
- 15 Deuteronomy 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4–6; Isaiah 40:18; Malachi 2:15; Jeremiah 17:21
- 16 Acts 17:29; Deuteronomy 5:8; Romans 1:22–24; Deuteronomy 4:23; Exodus 20:4–5
- 17 Romans 1:23
- 19 Romans 1:25; Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 21:3; Genesis 1:16–18; 2 Kings 17:16
- 20 1 Kings 8:51; Jeremiah 11:4; Exodus 19:5–6; Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalm 135:4
- 21 Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 1:37; Psalm 106:32–33; Deuteronomy 3:26; Deuteronomy 31:2
- 22 Deuteronomy 3:25; Deuteronomy 3:27; 2 Peter 1:13–15; Hebrews 12:6–10; 1 Kings 13:21–22
- 23 Deuteronomy 4:9; Isaiah 24:5; Ezekiel 16:59; Joshua 23:16; Deuteronomy 29:25
- 24 Hebrews 12:29; Deuteronomy 9:3; Exodus 24:17; Nahum 1:6; Isaiah 33:14
- 25 Deuteronomy 4:16; 1 Corinthians 10:22; Hosea 9:9; Exodus 32:7; 2 Kings 21:14–16
- 26 Deuteronomy 32:1; Micah 6:2; Deuteronomy 30:18–19; Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 22:29
- 27 Deuteronomy 28:62–64; Leviticus 26:33; Nehemiah 1:8–9; Ezekiel 32:26; Ezekiel 12:15
- 28 Deuteronomy 28:64; Jeremiah 16:13; Isaiah 46:7; Deuteronomy 28:36; 1 Samuel 26:19
- 29 Jeremiah 29:12–14; Psalm 119:2; 2 Chronicles 15:4; Isaiah 55:6–7; Psalm 119:10
- 30 Joel 2:12–13; Jeremiah 23:20; Hosea 3:5; Deuteronomy 31:29; Genesis 49:1
- 31 Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 116:5; Nehemiah 9:31; Jonah 4:2; 2 Chronicles 30:9
- 32 Job 8:8; Psalm 44:1; Deuteronomy 32:7; Matthew 24:31; Joel 1:2
- 33 Deuteronomy 5:24; Judges 6:22; Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 5:26; Exodus 24:11
- 34 Deuteronomy 26:8; Deuteronomy 5:15; Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 7:8–9
- 35 Isaiah 45:18; 1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 45:5; Isaiah 44:8; Deuteronomy 4:39
- 36 Exodus 19:19; Exodus 19:9; Deuteronomy 4:33; Nehemiah 9:13; Hebrews 12:25
- 37 Deuteronomy 10:15; Isaiah 63:11–12; Exodus 13:9; Exodus 13:3; Exodus 13:14
- 38 Deuteronomy 7:1; Exodus 23:27–28; Deuteronomy 11:23; Deuteronomy 9:1–5; Psalm 44:2–3
- 39 Joshua 2:11; Deuteronomy 4:35; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Hosea 7:2; Psalm 135:6
- 40 Deuteronomy 6:3; Ephesians 6:3; Deuteronomy 12:25; Leviticus 22:31; Deuteronomy 12:28
- 41 Numbers 35:6; Numbers 35:14–15; Joshua 20:2–9
- 42 Deuteronomy 19:1–10; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 35:6; Numbers 35:15–28; Numbers 35:11–12
- 43 Joshua 20:8; 1 Chronicles 6:71; 1 Chronicles 6:80; Joshua 21:27; 1 Kings 4:13
- 44 Deuteronomy 27:26; Leviticus 27:34; Malachi 4:4; Deuteronomy 27:8; Deuteronomy 1:5
- 45 1 Kings 2:3; Psalm 119:14; Psalm 119:24; Deuteronomy 6:20; Deuteronomy 4:1
- 46 Deuteronomy 3:29; Numbers 32:19; Deuteronomy 2:30–36; Deuteronomy 3:8; Deuteronomy 1:4–5
- 47 Deuteronomy 29:7–8; Numbers 21:33–35; Deuteronomy 3:1–14
- 48 Deuteronomy 3:9; Deuteronomy 2:36; Deuteronomy 3:12; Psalm 133:3; Joshua 13:24–33
- 49 Deuteronomy 3:17; Deuteronomy 34:1; Joshua 13:20
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… And he does thus explain what are meant by the things in heaven: "Lest when," he says, "looking towards heaven, and observing the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and all the ornament of heaven, falling into error, thou shouldest adore and serve them." And Moses himself, being a man of God, was indeed given as a god before …
… their own pride, as fowls of the air, nor their own curiosities, by which (like the fishes of the sea) they wander over the unknown paths of the abyss, nor their own extravagance, as the "beasts of the field," that Thou, Lord, "a consuming fire," mayest burn up their lifeless cares and renew them immortally.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
"For ye shall not add," saith he, "unto the word which I command you this day, and ye shall not take away from it." But not the less were they innovating; as in this instance, that one ought not to eat with unwashen hands, that we must wash cups and brazen vessels, that we must wash also ourselves.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Wherefore Moses saith also to the Israelites: And take ye good heed to your own souls, for ye saw no similitude.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… (God), even if, as those who are skilful in these matters say, it were derived from Theein (to run) or from Aithein (to blaze), from continual motion, and because He consumes evil conditions of things (from which fact He is also called A Consuming Fire), would still be one of the Relative Names, and not an Absolute one; as again …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)