Moses' Great Commission*

 * Deuteronomy (ch 6)

Hear this commission— statutes and the laws
— the Lord your God charged me to teach you to
remember & act out, observe, because
then in the land that you will cross into

to occupy; well you, and your children,
and children’s children, may then fear the Lord
your God, the days of your life there, so when
you keep all his decrees you won’t be bored,

your days with praise will be prolonged. Therefore,
O Isra’el, hear and observe them well
so that it may go well with you, and more,
that you may multiply and live to tell

& show your land aflow with honey-ed milk.
Hear well, O Isra’el: Yahweh is ONE
The LORD alone is God, all other ill-
conceived of gods have not even begun.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and all your soul, and all your might.
Keep these words in your heart, & then stand tall.
Recite them to your children, talk at night

about them when you are at home and when
you are away, when you lie down and rise.
Enmesh them in each action and emblem,
each thought, and motive; they will make you wise.

And write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates, when you go in and out,
they’ll save you from becoming such a louse,
that you suck blood then have “the hide” to pout.



For when the Lord your God has brought you to
the land that he swore to your ancestors,
to Abraham, & Isaac, Jacob, who
looked for & forward to (this land of yours)

—a land with fine, large cities, houses, streets,
you did not build, though filled with all sorts of
good things you did not bring or make, like seats,
& tanks; & vineyards & groves of olive-

trees you did not plant— and when you’ve eaten
your fill, take care that you do not forget
the Lord, who brought you out (no more beaten)
out of the land of Egypt, slaves & yet

unless you fear & serve God, the right way,
and make your oathes by his name - serious(!)
you’ll never learn to love him and obey
you’ll follow fashion gods, who’re spurious!

Because the Lord your God is present with
you, as a jealous lover, he’ll destroy
(in anger) you from off the face of Earth.
So do not treat the Lord God as your boy,

or test him, as “his teacher”, have some sense.
So diligently you must keep his word,
all his commands, decrees, and statutes whence
you’ll live as though he’s God, and not absurd-

ly like you are his God. Do what is right
and good in sight of God, who made all folk,
& then it will go well with you. His might
will thrust out all your enemies each bloke.



And when your children ask in time to come,
‘What is the meaning of all these decrees
the Lord our God commanded?’ Don’t be dumb,
but say “With mighty hand, Yahweh, with ease,

did bring us out of Egypt, where as slaves
we served the Pharaoh there. The Lord displayed
before our eyes great, awesome signs, in waves,
against Egypt, and Pharaoh, till they bade

us leave. God brought us out to bring us in,
to give this land to us, as he promised
on oath to ancestors of us, he wins
the right to ask us fight with him, & trust.

To fight against all selfish ways, for good,
& he will act to keep us all alive
till death parts us from this world, as it should.
In world renewed we will all “right” arrive.