It is no trifle for you, but it is your life: see 30.20. This emphasizes the seriousness of the matter; what Moses has taught the people is not something insignificant that they can take or leave. Their very existence as a people depends on their obedience to the Law. Contemporary English Version has a helpful model: “The Law isn’t empty words. It can give you long life….”

Thereby you shall live long in the land: see 30.20. Thereby means “by means of it” and refers to obeying the Law, and Good News Translation has “Obey them [the teachings] and you will live….”

Possess: see 1.8. For parallels see 4.26, 40.

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 .