A Strong Hand

Selections from Devarim/Words in Va-Ethannan Deuteronom 3.23-7.11

Scattered among the peoples – seek God with all heart and soul
Listen YisraEl (all truth wrestlers getting it straight)
The Lord your God is the oneness of everything everywhere

I am Yah El (the Lord your God). I hear the pleas of my people.
I’m bringing you up from the narrow places
Be careful and walk the way I’m showing and teaching you

Now see with your own eyes:
A mountain flaming high into a dark dense sky
A mighty voice speaking out of fire and thick clouds

Becoming ten sounds, ten words
Ten symbols inscribed on two tables of stone

With a strong hand God rescues us from blinding bondage
Out of the midst of fire, Yah (God) speaks with us face to face
And strikes a covenant with us

I am beyond any manner of likeness one could draw or engrave
I show mercy for thousands of generations

Honor your parents and long endure and increase greatly
Sacred is the Sabbath, a seventh day – make it so

(Of course) don’t murder people or be adulterous
Or steal from each other or bear false witness against anyone
Or covet your neighbor’s spouse or home or vehicles or wealth

Ten words Alef, Bayt, Gimal, Dalet, Heh,
Vahv, Zayin, cHet, Tet, Yohd

Impress them in the hearts of your children
Bind them as a sign on your hands and between your eyes
On the doorposts of your house and write them on your gates
(They are your gates)

If you make God your treasure, you’ll find God’s love is on you
Be a nation who has God close at hand

Go the mountain top. Strike a covenant with God.
Inherit the good land