Joshua 23

1 A long time later, after the Lord had given peace to the Israelites from conflict with their enemies around them, Joshua, by now really old,

And it came to pass, after many days, when Yahweh had given rest unto Israel, from all their enemies round about, —and, Joshua, had become old, advanced in days,

2 summoned all the Israelites—the elders, leaders, judges, and officials—and told them, “I'm old, getting on in years.

that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, —and said unto them, I, am old, advanced in days;

3 You've seen everything the Lord your God has done to all the nations on your behalf—the Lord your God has been fighting for you.

but, ye, have seen—all that Yahweh your God hath done unto all those nations, because of you, —for, Yahweh your God, is he that hath fought for you.

4 I have allotted the land of the remaining nations for you to own, as well as the nations already conquered, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea.

Behold, I have allotted to you these nations which remain, as an inheritance, for your tribes, —from the Jordan, and all the nations which I have cut off, even unto the great sea, at the going in of the sun.

5 The Lord your God will make them retreat from you. He will drive them out before you and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.

But, Yahweh your God—he, will thrust them out from before you, and drive them away out of your sight, —so shall ye possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke unto you.

6 Be sure to observe everything that is written in the book of the Law of Moses. Don't stray from it, either to the left or to the right.

Therefore must ye be very firm to observe and to do all that is written in the scroll of the law of Moses, —so as not to turn aside therefrom, to the right hand or to the left;

7 Don't associate with the nations that are left. Don't mention the names of their gods, and don't swear by them, worship them, or bow down to them.

so as not to go in among these nations, these which remain with you, —and, with the name of their gods, shall ye neither make memorial nor put on oath, and neither serve them, —nor bow down to them.

8 Stay close to the Lord your God, as you have done up to now.

But, unto Yahweh your God, must ye cleave, —as, ye have done until this day;

9 The Lord has driven out strong, powerful nations before you. No one has been able to stand up to you to this day.

therefore hath Yahweh dispossessed, from before you, nations great and strong, —but, as for you, not a man hath stood before you, until this day.

10 Just one of you can chase away a thousand enemies, for the Lord your God is fighting for you, as he promised you.

One man of you, can chase a thousand, —for, Yahweh your God, is he that fighteth for you, as he spake to you.

11 Take great care to love the Lord your God.

Take diligent heed, therefore, unto your souls, —to love Yahweh your God.

12 For if you do turn from him, and adopt the ways of the nations that are left, if you intermarry with them, associating with one other,

But, if ye, do in any wise turn back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, these which remain with you, —and intermarry with them, and go in with them, and, they, with you;

13 you can be absolutely sure that the Lord your God will definitely not drive out these nations before you. On the contrary, they will be a trap and a snare to you, a whip on you back and thorns in your eyes until you die out completely from this good land the Lord your God has given you.

know, that Yahweh your God will no further drive out these nations from before you, —but they will become unto you a snare and a hook, and a goad in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye have perished from off this goodly soil, which Yahweh your God hath given unto you.

14 Now I am about to die, the fate of every living thing on the earth. Deep down you know that not a single one of the Lord's good promises has failed. Everything has come true. Not one has failed.

But lo! I am going to-day, in the way of all the earth, —ye must acknowledge, therefore, with all your heart and with all your soul, that there hath not failed a single thing, out of all the good things which Yahweh your God spake concerning you, the whole, hath come to pass to you, there hath not failed thereof, a single thing.

15 But in the same way that you received all the good things that the Lord you God promised, the Lord will bring on you all the bad things he has threatened until you're completely wiped out from this good land the Lord your God has given you.

But it shall be that, as all the good things have come unto you, which Yahweh your God spake unto you, so, will Yahweh bring upon you all the evil things, until he hath destroyed you from off this goodly soil, which Yahweh your God hath given unto you.

16 If you break the agreement the Lord your God made with you, and you go and worship other gods, bowing down before them, then the Lord will become angry with you, and you will be quickly wiped out from the good land he has given you.”

When ye transgress the covenant of Yahweh your God which he hath commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow yourselves down unto them, then will the anger of Yahweh kindle upon you, and ye will perish quickly, from off the good land which he hath given unto you.