Joshua 23

1

Joshua’s Charge to Leaders

A longH7227 timeH3117 afterH310 the LORDH3068 had given IsraelH3478 restH5117 from allH3605 the enemiesH341 around themH5439, when JoshuaH3091 was oldH2204 and well alongH935 in yearsH3117, 2he summonedH7121 allH3605 IsraelH3478, including its eldersH2205, leadersH7218, judgesH8199, and officersH7860. “IH589 am oldH2204 and well alongH935 in yearsH3117,” he saidH559, 3“and youH859 have seenH7200 everythingH3605 thatH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 has doneH6213 to allH3605 theseH428 nationsH1471 for your sakeH6440, becauseH3588 itH1931 was the LORDH3068 your GodH430 who foughtH3898 for you.

4SeeH7200, I have allottedH5307 as an inheritanceH5159 to your tribesH7626 theseH428 remainingH7604 nationsH1471, including allH3605 the nationsH1471 I have already cut offH3772, fromH4480 the JordanH3383 westwardH3996H8121 to the Great SeaH3220H1419.1 5The LORDH3068 your GodH430H1931 will push themH1920 out of your wayH6440 and drive them outH3423 before youH853H6440, so that you can take possession ofH3423 their landH776, asH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 promisedH1696 you.

6Be veryH3966 strong, thenH2388, so that you can keepH8104 and obeyH6213 allH3605 that is writtenH3789 in the BookH5612 of the LawH8451 of MosesH4872, notH1115 turning asideH5493 from itH4480 to the rightH3225 or to the leftH8040. 7So you are notH1115 to associateH935 with theseH428 nationsH1471 that remainH7604H428 among youH854. You must notH3808 call onH2142 the namesH8034 of their godsH430 orH3808 swear by themH7650, and you must notH3808 serve themH5647 or bow downH7812 to them. 8InsteadH3588H518, you shall hold fastH1692 to the LORDH3068 your GodH430, asH834 you have doneH6213 toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117.

9The LORDH3068 has driven outH3423 greatH1419 and powerfulH6099H859 nationsH1471 before youH6440, and toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117 noH3808 oneH376 can standH5975 against youH6440. 10OneH376H259 of you can putH7291 a thousand to flightH505, becauseH3588 the LORDH3068 your GodH430H1931 fightsH3898 for you, just asH834 He promisedH1696. 11Therefore watchH8104 yourselvesH5315 carefullyH3966, that you loveH157 the LORDH3068 your GodH430. 12ForH3588 ifH518 you turn awayH7725 and clingH1692 to the restH3499 of theseH428 nationsH1471 that remainH7604H428 among youH854, and if you intermarryH2859 and associateH935 with themH1992, 13know for sureH3045 thatH3588 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 will noH3808 longerH3254 drive outH3423 theseH428 nationsH1471 before youH6440. Instead, they will becomeH1961 for you a snareH6341 and a trapH4170, a scourgeH7850 in your sidesH6654 and thornsH6796 in your eyesH5869, untilH5704 you perishH6 fromH5921 thisH2063 goodH2896 landH127 thatH834 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 has givenH5414 you.

14Now beholdH2009, todayH3117 IH595 am goingH1980 the wayH1870 of allH3605 the earthH776, and you knowH3045 with allH3605 your heartH3824 and soulH5315 thatH3588 notH3808 oneH259 of the goodH2896 promisesH1697 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 madeH1696 to youH5921 has failedH5307. EverythingH3605 was fulfilledH935 for you; notH3808 oneH259 promiseH1697 has failedH5307. 15But just asH834 everyH3605 goodH2896 thingH1697 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 promisedH1696 youH413 has come to passH935, likewiseH3651 the LORDH3068 will bringH935 upon youH5921 the calamity He has threatenedH7451, untilH5704 He has destroyedH8045 youH853 fromH5921 thisH2063 goodH2896 landH127 He has givenH5414 you. 16If you transgressH5674 the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 your GodH430, whichH834 He commanded youH6680, and goH1980 and serveH5647 otherH312 godsH430 and bow downH7812 to them, then the angerH639 of the LORDH3068 will burnH2734 against you, and you will quicklyH4120 perishH6 fromH5921 this goodH2896 landH776 He has givenH5414 you.”