Verses 14 and 15 go together, emphasizing Yahweh’s goodness in choosing the Israelites to be his people. The connection between the two verses should be quite clear.

Behold: a way of calling their attention; see 1.10.

To the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens: this is a normal Hebrew way of making a superlative, which may not be natural in some languages (as it is not natural in English). The whole phrase means “all the heavens above,” “even the highest heavens.” Revised English Bible has “heaven itself, the highest heaven,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “the heavens to their uttermost reaches,” New International Version “the heavens, even the highest heavens.” Some repetition or other form of emphasis seems advisable; but the translator must decide whether a phrase like “even the highest heavens” (Good News Translation) will lead the reader to think that there are a number of heavens, varying in height. BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum has “the heavens and all they contain.” In many languages “sky” and “heaven” will be the same term; so “the sky and all it contains” or “everything in the sky” will be natural ways to express this. For the LORD your God see 1.6.

The earth with all that is in it: primarily this refers to all the living beings on earth. So we may translate “the earth and all the living things in it.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The greatness of Yahweh’s love for Israel is shown by the fact that God, the lord and owner of all creation, chose such an insignificant people as the Israelites to be his own people.

The LORD set his heart in love upon your fathers: see 4.37; 7.7. In Hebrew there are two verbs, “fix your desire on” and “love,” which are combined into the one verbal phrase. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “He preferred your ancestors [over all other peoples] and loved them,” which may be a good model to follow.

And chose their descendants after them, you …: this is unnatural and unnecessarily wordy. Something like “and he chose you, their descendants” may be better. In some languages it will be better to make a new sentence and say, for example, “He chose you. You are their descendants….”

You above all peoples: of all the peoples on earth, Yahweh chose the Israelites to be his own people.

As at this day: again Moses reminds his hearers of their present situation.

Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje offers a good model to follow for this verse:

• But his love for your ancestors was so great that of all peoples on earth he chose you, and to this very day you are his chosen people.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Circumcise … the foreskin of your heart: this figure of speech reflects the rite of circumcision, by which a Jewish male became a member of the chosen race, bound to God by the covenant which God had made with Abraham, of which circumcision was the sign (Gen 17.1-14). To “circumcise … the … heart” is to make your disposition and desire obedient to the terms of the covenant, that is, to obey God’s laws (Jer 4.3-4). The meaning is clarified by what follows, and be no longer stubborn (see 9.6, 13).

In very few languages will this figure of speech mean very much; in fact in some languages such figurative language will be vulgar and offensive. Some translations provide a footnote explaining the figure. It is better to abandon the figure altogether and give the meaning in a straightforward manner, as Good News Translation does with “be obedient to the LORD.” See Bible en français courant “be completely consecrated to the LORD your God.” But Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “Put in your heart the sign of the covenant” (similarly BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum) is not very clear.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

God of gods and Lord of lords: this is another instance of a superlative (see verse 14). It means “the greatest of all gods, the mightiest of all lords” (see Psa 136.2-3) or “The LORD your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers” (Good News Translation). Lord means “ruler,” or “one who has the power to rule.” We may combine the two phrases and say “Yahweh your God is more powerful than all other gods and rulers.” For gods see 3.24.

The great, the mighty, and the terrible God: the adjectives great (see 7.21) and mighty have almost the same meaning, and their equivalents should be easy to find; Contemporary English Version combines the two terms with “tremendous power.” Terrible means “awesome,” one who is to be feared (see 7.21). The whole sentence may be also expressed as “and people should be afraid of his tremendous power.”

Is not partial: God does not have favorites; he treats everyone alike (see 1.17, where the same is said of human judges). Contemporary English Version has “his decisions are always fair,” or we may say “He always judges people fairly.”

Takes no bribes: as a judge God always gives a just and fair decision; he cannot be paid to render an unjust decision. If the figure of God’s (not) accepting a bribe is too strange or difficult for readers to accept, the figure must be abandoned and the meaning expressed clearly; for example, “he always renders a right decision,” “all his judgments are right,” or “when God judges people he is always just.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Executes justice for the fatherless and widows: this does not only mean that God is impartial in applying the law to orphans and widows, but that God actively takes their side. Another way to express this is “Makes sure that … are treated fairly” (Good News Translation). Orphans and widows were the people with the least power in that society, and they were easily exploited by unscrupulous people. Bible en français courant has “He defends the rights of orphans and widows” (see also Contemporary English Version). The Hebrew word translated as fatherless by Revised Standard Version and “orphan” by many other translations refers to “a child without a father.” In languages that distinguish between “orphan,” a child who has lost both parents, and “fatherless,” a child who has lost only the father, the translator should choose “fatherless.” Otherwise “orphan” may be used.

The sojourner: this means “resident aliens,” foreigners who lived with the Israelites. Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje has “the foreigners who live among us,” and Good News Translation “the foreigners who live with our people.” We may note that this reference makes more sense in a context where the people are already settled in the land of Canaan.

Giving him food and clothing: it is better to use the plural form, “the foreigners who live in our land; he gives them food and clothing.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

For an almost exact parallel to this verse, see Lev 19.34 (see also Exo 22.21; 23.9). Love here refers to showing concern and care for these foreigners. Thus the translation may be “So you should show care and concern for…,” or even “So you should care for….”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

This verse repeats almost word for word statements found elsewhere in the book (see 6.13). But the verb cleave to is used here for the first time. It means to maintain a close relationship with someone, to cling to them or stay close to them (also 11.22; 13.4; 30.20). It is the verb used of the relationship between husband and wife (Gen 2.24). Good News Translation has “be faithful to.” This is also possible.

By his name you shall swear: see 6.13.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

He is your praise: this can mean either (1) God is the one you must praise, or (2) God is the reason why other peoples praise you. Although the second is possible, it seems that the first meaning is to be preferred. Bible en français courant translates “It is he to whom you must direct your praise.” Contemporary English Version has “Offer your praise to him.” However, in languages where the idea of praise will require direct speech, we may say, for example, “You must say to him, ‘You are wonderful [or, great].’ ” Revised English Bible takes your praise in another way, “your proud boast”—that is, God is the one that you (the people of Israel) boast about.

Done for you these great and terrible things: see 7.21. This refers in a general way to all that God had done for the people during their forty years’ wandering in the wilderness.

Which your eyes have seen: they themselves had seen the great and awesome things that God had done for them (see 3.21).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .