1以下是梅瑟在約但河東岸，對全以色列所講的話。──即在穌夫對面的阿辣巴曠野中，在帕蘭與托費耳、拉班、哈則洛特和狄匝哈布之間。 1These are the words, which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan, in the plain wilderness, over against the Red Sea, between Pharan and Thophel and Laban and Haseroth, where there is very much gold:
2從曷勒布經色依爾山，到卡德士巴爾乃亞，共有十一天的路程。── 2Eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Cadesbarne.
3在第四十年十一月一日，梅瑟將上主吩咐他的一切事，全訓示了以色列子民。 3In the fortieth year, the eleventh month, the first day of the month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel all that the Lord had commanded him to say to them:
4當時他已擊敗住在赫市朋的阿摩黎王息紅，和住在阿舍塔洛特和厄德勒的巴商王敖格。 4After that he had slain Sehon king of the Amorrhites, who dwelt in Hesebon: and Og king of Basan who abode in Astaroth, and in Edrai,
5梅瑟在約但河東岸摩阿布地方開始宣講這法律說： 5Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab. And Moses began to expound the law, and to say:
6「上主，我們的天主，在曷勒布曾訓示我們說：「你們在這山下住得夠久了， 6The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: You have stayed long enough in this mountain:
7現在起身出發，到阿摩黎人的山地去，到那些住在阿辣巴荒野、山地、盆地、乃革布和沿海一帶地方去，到客納罕地，到黎巴嫩，直到大河，即幼發拉的河那一帶地方去。 7Turn you, and come to the mountain of the Amorrhites, and to the other places that are next to it, the plains and the hills and the vales towards the south, and by the sea shore, the land of the Chanaanites, and of Libanus, as far as the great river Euphrates.
8看，我已將此地擺在你們面前，你們應去佔領上主誓許給你們的祖先亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯和他們後裔的地方。」 8Behold, said he, I have delivered it to you: go in and possess it, concerning which the Lord swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that he would give it to them, and to their seed after them.
9那時我對你們說過：我個人無法負擔你們。 9And I said to you at that time:
10上主你們的天主使你們的人數增加，看，你們今天多得有如天上的繁星。 10I alone am not able to bear you: for the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and you are this day as the stars of heaven, for multitude.
11惟願上主你們祖先的天主，再千百倍地增加你們的數目，照他所應許的，祝福你們！ 11(The Lord God of your fathers add to this number many thousands, and bless you as he hath spoken.)
12但我個人怎能承擔起你們的煩務、重任和訴訟的事？ 12I alone am not able to bear your business, and the charge of you and your differences.
13你們各支派應推舉一些有智慧，有見識，有經驗的人，我好立他們為你們的首領。 13Let me have from among you wise and understanding men, and such whose conversation is approved among your tribes, that I may appoint them your rulers.
14你們回答我說：「你建議的事很好。」 14Then you answered me: The thing is good which thou meanest to do.
15我遂選了你們各支派中有智慧有經驗的首領，立為你們的首領：即千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十人長，並為各支派立了監督， 15And I took out of your tribes men wise and honourable, and appointed them rulers, tribunes, and centurions, and officers over fifties, and over tens, who might teach you all things.
16同時我也吩咐你們的判官說：你們要聽斷你們兄弟間的訴訟：無論是兄弟彼此訴訟，或與外方人訴訟，都應秉公審斷。 16And I commanded them, saying: Hear them, and judge that which is just: whether he be one of your country, or a stranger.
17審案時不可偏袒，無論貴賤，同樣聽斷；任何人都不要怕，因為審判是天主的事。若遇有難斷的案件，該呈報給我，我來聽斷。 17There shall be no difference of persons, you shall hear the little as well as the great: neither shall you respect any man's person, because it is the judgment of God. And if any thing seem hard to you, refer it to me, and I will hear it.
18同時，凡你們當做的事，我都吩咐了你們。 18And I commanded you all things that you were to do.
19我們由曷勒布起程，經過了你們所見的這整個遼闊可怖的曠野：照上主我們的天主對我們的吩咐，我們向阿摩黎人山地進發，一直來到了卡德士巴爾乃亞。 19And departing from Horeb, we passed through the terrible and vast wilderness, which you saw, by the way of the mountain of the Amorrhite, as the Lord our God had commanded us. And when we were come into Cadesbarne,
20那時我曾對你們說：你們已來到上主我們的天主即將賜給我們的阿摩黎人的山地。 20I said to you: You are come to the mountain of the Amorrhite, which the Lord our God will give to us.
21看上主你的天主已將這地擺在你面前，你要照上主你祖先的天主對你所許下的，去佔領這地；不要害怕，也不要膽怯。 21See the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord our God hath spoken to thy fathers: fear not, nor be any way discouraged.
22你們眾人便來到我跟前說：「讓我們先派些人去，替我們偵探那地方，然後回報我們，我們當走那條路，當去那些城。」 22And you came all to me, and said: Let us send men who may view the land, and bring us word what way we shall go up, and to what cities we shall go.
23我就由你們中挑選了十二人，每支派一人； 23And because the saying pleased me, I sent of you twelve men, one of every tribe:
24他們起身上了山地，一直到了厄市苛耳山谷，偵探了那地。 24Who, when they had set forward and had gone up to the mountains, came as far as the valley of the cluster: and having viewed the land,
25他們帶回來那地方的一些果品，並回報我們說：「上主我們的天主即將賜給我們的地方實在好。」 25Taking of the fruits thereof, to shew its fertility, they brought them to us, and said: The land is good, which the Lord our God will give us.
26但你們卻不肯上去，竟違背了上主你們天主的命令， 26And you would not go up, but being incredulous to the word of the Lord our God,
27在你們的帳幕內抱怨說：「上主因為恨我們，才將我們由埃及地領出來，將我們交在阿摩黎人手中，消滅我們。 27You murmured in your tents, and said: The Lord hateth us, and therefore he hath brought us out of the land of Egypt, that he might deliver us into the hand of the Amorrhite, and destroy us.
28我們上那裡去呢？我們的兄弟又說了些使我們心灰意冷的話。他們說：我們在那裡看見了一個比我們又大又高的民族，他們的城邑廣大，城牆高聳摩天；我們在那裡還看見了阿納克人的子孫。」 28Whither shall we go up? the messengers have terrified our hearts, saying: The multitude is very great, and taller than we: the cities are great, and walled up to the sky, we have seen the sons of the Enacims there.
29我遂對你們說：「不要畏懼，不要害怕。 29And I said to you: Fear not, neither be ye afraid of them:
30因為上主你們的天主，走在你們前面，他必為你們作戰，正如他在埃及在你們眼前，為你們所做的一樣； 30The Lord God, who is your leader, himself will fight for you, as he did in Egypt in the sight of all.
31並且在曠野裡，你也看出上主你的天主在你所走的長途中，攜帶你們，如同人攜帶自己的兒子一樣，直到你們來到這地方。 31And in the wilderness (as thou hast seen) the Lord thy God hath carried thee, as a man is wont to carry his little son, all the way that you have come, until you came to this place.
32雖然如此，但你們仍不信賴上主你們的天主， 32And yet for all this you did not believe the Lord your God,
33他一路原走在你們前面，替你們找安營的地方：夜間藉著火，日間藉著雲彩，指示你們應走的道路。 33Who went before you in the way, and marked out the place, wherein you should pitch your tents, in the night shewing you the way by fire, and in the day by the pillar of a cloud.
34上主一聽見你們的怨聲，就發怒起誓說： 34And when the Lord had heard the voice of your words, he was angry and swore, and said:
35「這個邪惡世代的人，一個也不得見我誓許要賜給你們祖先的樂土； 35Not one of the men of this wicked generation shall see the good land, which I promised with an oath to your fathers:
36只有耶孚乃的兒子加肋布除外，他必見到此地，並且我要將他踏過的地，賜給他和他的子孫，因為他一心隨從了上主。」 36Except Caleb the son of Jephone: for he shall see it, and to him I will give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath followed the Lord.
37為了你們的緣故，上主也對我發怒說：「連你也不能進入那地。 37Neither is his indignation against the people to be wondered at, since the Lord was angry with me also on your account, and said: Neither shalt thou go in thither.
38那侍候你的農的兒子若蘇厄，要進入那地；你應壯他的膽，因為他要使以色列佔領那地作為產業。 38But Josue the son of Nun, thy minister, he shall go in for thee: exhort and encourage him, and he shall divide the land by lot to Israel.
39此外，你們所說要成為戰利品的幼童，至今尚不知好歹的子女，他們都要進入那地。我要將那地賜給他們作為產業。 39Your children, of whom you said that they should be led away captives, and your sons who know not this day the difference of good and evil, they shall go in: and to them I will give the land, and they shall possess it.
40至於你們，應轉向紅海出發，往曠野裡去。」 40But return you and go into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.
41你們回答我說：「我們得罪了上主；現在我們願全照上主我們的天主的吩咐上去交戰。」你們各人遂都武裝起來，輕率地上了山地。 41And you answered me: We have sinned against the Lord: we will go up and fight, as the Lord our God hath commanded. And when you went ready armed unto the mountain,
42但上主對我說：「你告訴他們說：你們不要上去，不要作戰，因為我不在你們中間，免得被敵人擊敗。」 42The Lord said to me: Say to them: Go not up, and fight not, for I am not with you: lest you fall before your enemies.
43我立即告訴了你們，你們卻不聽，違背上主的命令，擅自上了山地。 43I spoke, and you hearkened not: but resisting the commandment of the Lord, and swelling with pride, you went up into the mountain.
44住在山地的阿摩黎人蜂擁而出，攻擊你們，追趕你們，由色依爾直殺到曷爾瑪。 44And the Amorrhite that dwelt in the mountains coming out, and meeting you, chased you, as bees do: and made slaughter of you from Seir as far as Horma.
45你們回來，在上主面前哭泣哀號，但上主未曾俯聽你們的哭聲，也未向你們側耳； 45And when you returned and wept before the Lord, he heard you not, neither would he yield to; your voice.
46你們只得長期地停留在卡德士，停留得這樣長久。 46So you abode in Cadesbarne a long time.
1:1-5
1-5节经文残缺不明，有些地名不知位於何处。本段大意是说：以色列人进入福地原非难事，由西乃山到福地南方的卡德士只需十一天的路程；但因他们背弃天主，天主罚他们漂泊在旷野中，第四十年才到达福地对面的约但河东地带。5节「宣讲这法律说」，只是一伏笔，4章才开始宣讲法律。1:6-3:29一段，是史事的重述和应守法律的动机。
1:7
7节和户34:1-15所载是福地的理想边界。
1:8-18
参阅出18:13-26；户11:16-17。
1:19-46
关於19-46节，参阅户13-14两章。「红海」（40）亦译作「芦苇海」即今阿加巴海湾。本书中「你」与「你们」多次混用。大致可说：用「你」是向以色列人每位，用「你们」是向全体百姓发言；有时以「他的」或「他们的」代替「你的」或「你们的」，为使语气转为缓和。这是读者应注意的。