"Now my time has come to die. Every one of you knows in his heart and soul that the LORD your God has given you all the good things that he promised. Every promise he made has been kept; not one has failed.

My years are passing now, and I walk the road of no return.

I know you are taking me off to my death, to the fate in store for everyone.

Who can live and never die? How can we humans keep ourselves from the grave?

Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God.

He is to keep this book near him and read from it all his life, so that he will learn to honor the LORD and to obey faithfully everything that is commanded in it.

This will keep him from thinking that he is better than other Israelites and from disobeying the LORD's commands in any way. Then he will reign for many years, and his descendants will rule Israel for many generations.

Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the LORD himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you."

Be determined and confident, for you will be the leader of these people as they occupy this land which I promised their ancestors.

Just be determined, be confident; and make sure that you obey the whole Law that my servant Moses gave you. Do not neglect any part of it and you will succeed wherever you go.

King David said to his son Solomon, "Be confident and determined. Start the work and don't let anything stop you. The LORD God, whom I serve, will be with you. He will not abandon you, but he will stay with you until you finish the work to be done on his Temple.

Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power.

As for you, my son, be strong through the grace that is ours in union with Christ Jesus.

O LORD God, you have let me succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and don't know how to rule.

Be strong and courageous! Let's fight hard for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD's will be done!"

After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity.