Joshua 23

1 And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;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 and well stricken in years:3 and ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for Jehovah your God, he it is that hath fought for you.4 Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun.5 And Jehovah your God, he will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as Jehovah your God spake unto you.6 Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;7 that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;8 but cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day.9 For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day.10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you.11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God.12 Else if ye do at all go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;13 know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.

14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which Jehovah your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof.15 And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which Jehovah your God spake unto you, so will Jehovah bring upon you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.16 When ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

Joshua 23

Joshua Challenges Israel to be Faithful

1 A long timet passed after the Lord made Israel secure from all their enemies,t and Joshua was very old.t2 So Joshua summoned all Israel, including the elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and told them: “I am very old.3 You saw everything the Lord your God did to all these nations on your behalf, for the Lord your God fights for you.t4 See, I have parceled out to your tribes these remaining nations,t from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Seat in the west, including all the nations I defeated.t5 The Lord your God will drive them out from before you and remove them,t so you can occupyt their land as the Lord your God promisedt you.6 Be very strong! Carefully obeyt all that is written in the law scroll of Moses so you won’t swerve from it to the right or the left,7 or associate with these nations that remain neart you. You must not invoke or make solemn declarations by the names of their gods!t You must not worshipt or bow down to them!

8 But you must be loyal tot the Lord your God, as you have beent to this very day.
9 “The Lord drove out from before you great and mighty nations; no one has been able to resist yout to this very day.10 One of you makes a thousand run away,t for the Lord your God fights for yout as he promised you he would.t11 Watch yourselves carefully! Love the Lord your God!t12 But if you ever turn away and make alliances witht these nations that remain near you,t and intermarry with them and establish friendly relations with them,t

13 know for certain that the Lord our God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. They will trap and ensnare you;t they will be a whip that tearst your sides and thorns that blindt your eyes until you disappeart from this good land the Lord your God gave you.
14 “Look, today I am about to die.t You know with all your heart and beingt that not even one of all the faithful promises the Lord your God made to you is left unfulfilled; every one was realized – not one promise is unfulfilled!t15 But in the same way every faithful promise the Lord your God made to you has been realized,t it is just as certain, if you disobey, that the Lord will bring on you every judgmentt until he destroys you from this good land which the Lord your God gave you.

16 If you violate the covenantal laws of the Lord your God which he commanded you to keep,t and follow, worship, and bow down to other gods,t the Lord will be very angry with you and you will disappeart quickly from the good land which he gave to you.”