Joshua 23

1 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,

Now 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.

2 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;

Joshua 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.

3 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.

And 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.

4 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.

And 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,

5 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.

the 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.

6 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;

Even 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.

7 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.

Otherwise, 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.

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

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

9 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.

And 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.

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

One 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.

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

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

12 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;

But 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,

13 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.

even 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.

14 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.

Lo, 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.

15 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.

Therefore, 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,

16 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.

when 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.”