Joshua 23

¹Now a long time passed, after the Lord had given peace to Israel by subjecting all the surrounding nations. And Joshua was now old and very advanced in age.

²Joshua called all of Israel, and those greater by birth, and the leaders and rulers and teachers, and he said to them: “I am elderly and advanced in age.

³And you yourselves discern all that the Lord your God has done with all the surrounding nations, in what manner he himself has fought for you.

⁴And now, since he has divided to you by lot all the land, from the eastern part of the Jordan even to the great sea, and yet many nations still remain,

⁵the Lord your God will destroy them, and he will take them away before your face, and you shall possess the land, just as he has promised you.

⁶Even so, be strengthened and be careful that you observe all the things that have been written in the book of the law of Moses, and that you do not turn aside from them, neither to the right, nor to the left.

⁷Otherwise, after you have entered to the Gentiles, who will be among you in the future, you might swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them.

⁸Instead, cling to the Lord your God, just as you have done even to this day.

⁹And then the Lord God will take away, in your sight, nations that are great and very robust, and no one will be able to withstand you.

¹⁰One of you shall pursue a thousand men of the enemies. For the Lord your God himself will fight on your behalf, just as he promised.

¹¹Even so, be very diligent and careful in this: that you love the Lord your God.

¹²But if you choose to cling to the errors of these nations that live among you, and to mix with them by marriage, and to join with them by friendship,

¹³even now, know this: that the Lord your God will not wipe them away before your face. Instead, they shall be a pit and a snare to you, and a stumbling block at your side, and stakes in your eyes, until he takes you away and scatters you from this excellent land, which he has delivered to you.

¹⁴Lo, today I am entering the way of the entire earth, and you shall know with all your mind that, out of all the words that the Lord has promised to fulfill for you, not one will pass by unfulfilled.

¹⁵Therefore, just as he has fulfilled in deed what he has promised, and all prosperous things have arrived, so will he bring upon you whatever evils were threatened, until he takes you away and scatters you from this excellent land, which he has delivered to you,

¹⁶when you will have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he has formed with you, and will have served strange gods, and will have adored them. And then the fury of the Lord will rise up quickly and speedily against you, and you will be taken away from this excellent land, which he has delivered to you.”

Joshua 23

¹And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued. and Joshua being now old, and far advanced in years:

²Joshua called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for the princes, and for the judges, and for the masters, and said to them: I am old, and far advanced in years,

³And you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you:

⁴And now since he hath divided to you by lot all the land, from the east of the Jordan unto the great sea, ant many nations yet remain:

⁵The Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you.

⁶Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor to the left:

⁷Lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them:

⁸But cleave ye unto the Lord your God, as you have done until this day.

⁹And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and very strong, and no man shall be able to resist you.

¹⁰One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised.

¹¹This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God.

¹²But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships:

¹³Know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumbling-block at your side, and stakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you.

¹⁴Behold this day I am going into the way of all the earth, and you shall know with all your mind that of all the words which the Lord promised to perform for you, not one hath failed,

¹⁵Therefore as he hath fulfilled in deed, what he promised, and all things prosperous have come: so will he bring upon you all the evils he hath threatened, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you,

¹⁶When you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he hath made with you, and shall have served strange gods, and adored them: then shall the indignation of the Lord rise up quickly and speedily against you, and you shall be taken away from this excellent land, which he hath delivered to you.