Establish you: this gives the idea of firmness, permanence, endurance (also in 29.13).

A people holy to himself: that is, “a people completely dedicated to him” (7.6; 14.2; see Exo 19.6), namely, “his own special people” (Contemporary English Version).

As he has sworn to you: the LORD’s solemn promise (see 1.8).

Keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and walk in his ways: these are two ways of saying the same thing, for emphasis; for walk in his ways see 8.6; 10.12.

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 .

All the peoples of the earth: Contemporary English Version renders this as “everyone on earth.” This exaggerated language should be preserved in translation.

You are called by the name of the LORD: in essence this means that Yahweh has chosen the Israelites to be his own people; it indicates ownership. In 12.5 the place of worship is where Yahweh will “put his name” and live there—it will be his house, his home, with his people (also Jer 7.10-11). And Jer 14.9 has the same use of the idiom: the people of Israel are called by Yahweh’s name, meaning they are Yahweh’s people, they belong to him. Here Revised English Bible has “the LORD has named you as his very own,” and Good News Translation “that the LORD has chosen you to be his own people.” See also Num 6.27: “They [the priests] shall put my name on the people of Israel.” In 1 Kgs 8.43 Solomon says, in his prayer dedicating the Temple to Yahweh, “this house which I have built is called by thy name.” The Contemporary English Version translation “that you belong to the LORD” is a good model.

They will be afraid: for afraid see 1.29.

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 .

In verses 11-14 the promise of prosperity is renewed.

Make you abound in prosperity: or “make you prosper very much.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit this as unnecessary, since the following clauses reveal in detail how the Israelites will prosper.

The fruit of your body … of your cattle … of your ground: as in verse 4.

The land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you: see 1.8. As always, fathers means ancestors.

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 .

Open to you his good treasury the heavens: people thought of the heavens in physical terms as the place where the winds and the rains were stored (see Gen 7.11 and 8.2, the beginning and end of the Flood; see also Job 38.37; Psa 135.7). Translators are urged to keep the figurative language of treasury or “storehouse” if possible; for example, “He will send rain … from his rich storehouse in the sky” (Good News Translation), or “The LORD will open the storehouses in the sky, where he keeps the rain.”

The rain … in its season: that is, at the right time, when the crops needed it. It may be that this emphasis on Yahweh’s power to give rain reflects the belief among the Canaanites that their god Baal was the giver of rain. Contemporary English Version has a helpful model: “he will send rain on your land at just the right times.”

Bless all the work of your hands: see 2.7.

You shall lend … but you shall not borrow: this is not a command but a promise of prosperity. The Israelites will be prosperous enough to lend to other peoples, and never needy enough to have to borrow from them. For lend and borrow see 15.6.

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 vivid language in this verse should be preserved in translation, if it makes sense.

The head … the tail: that is, “in first place … in last place,” in terms of prosperity, power, and prestige. So Good News Translation has “will make you the leader among the nations and not the follower” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Tend upward only, and not downward: this means to increase, to go forward, to become even more prosperous, and never the contrary. So “you will always prosper and never fail” (Good News Translation), and “Israel will be wealthy and powerful, not poor and weak” (Contemporary English Version).

For the rest of the verse, see the same language in verse 1.

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 .

If you do not turn aside … to the right hand or to the left: this is a figure of complete obedience, without any deviation (see 5.32). So Good News Translation has “you must never disobey.”

The words which I command you this day: as often stated in the book, this refers to all of Moses’ words delivered on the same day in one long discourse.

To go after other gods to serve them: there is a constant indication in Deuteronomy of rivalry between Yahweh and the gods of Canaan; to serve other gods is to be guilty of idolatry (see 8.19).

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 pestilence: if a particular disease is intended, it is probably the (bubonic) plague; the Septuagint translates the Hebrew noun dever by “death.” Other ways to render pestilence are “disease after disease” (Good News Translation), or “terrible diseases” (Contemporary English Version).

Cleave to you until he has consumed you: Yahweh will send this plague on the rebellious Israelites until he has killed them all, and not one Israelite is left in the Promised Land. The vivid language should be retained if possible. Cleave to you may also be rendered as “stay with you” or “make you so sick that you will all….” Until he has consumed you means “until all of you are dead,” or “not one of you is left” (Good News Translation). This first sentence may be alternatively rendered “He will send terrible diseases upon you that will make you so sick that not one of you will stay alive.”

The land you are entering to take possession of it: see 1.8.

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 .