Joshua 23

1 And it came to pass after many days after the Lord had given Israel rest from all his enemies round about, that Joshua was old and advanced in years.

以後上主使以色列同四周敵人平安無事，這樣過弓很長的時間，若蘇厄已年老，上了年紀，

2 And Joshua called together all the children of Israel, and their elders, and their chiefs, and their judges, and their officers; and said to them, I am old and advanced in years.

便將全以色列人，他們的長老、首領、判官和官長召來，對他們說：「我已年老，上了年紀

3 And you have seen all that the Lord our God has done to all these nations before us; [for it] is the Lord your God who has fought for you.

你們都親眼見了上主你們的天主，為了你們對有的民族所做的一切；因為是上你們的天主在替你們作戰。

4 See, that I have given to you these nations that are left to you by lots to your tribes, all the nations beginning at Jordan; and [some] I have destroyed; and the boundaries shall be at the great sea westward.

你們看，我己用抽籤方式，將由約旦河起，直到日落之處的大海之間，所消滅和所剩下的各民族的土地，按照你們各支派，都分了你們作產業。

5 And the Lord our God, he shall destroy them before us, until they utterly perish; and he shall send against them the wild beasts, until he shall have utterly destroyed them and their kings from before you; and you shall inherit their land, as the Lord our God said to you.

上主你們的天主入將他們由你們面前趕走，使他們離開你們，叫你們承受他們的土地，一如上主你們的天主向你們所應許的。

6 Do you therefore strive diligently to observe and do all things written in the book of the law of Moses, that you turn not to the right hand or to the left;

因此，你們要更忠實謹守奉行梅瑟法律書上所記載的一切，不可偏左偏右，

7 that you go not in amongst these nations that are left; and the names of their gods shall not be named amongst you, neither shall you serve them, neither shall you bow down to them.

不可與你們中間的異族往來，不可提起你們的神名，不可指著他們起誓，不可事奉那些神袛，也不可在你們面前跪拜。

8 But you shall cleave to the Lord our God, as you have done until this day.

反之，你們應依照你們直到到今天所行的，依附上主你們的天主，

9 And the Lord shall destroy them before you, [even] great and strong nations; and no one has stood before us until this day.

因為是上主從你們中間趕走了那些強大的異族，直到今天，沒有人能抵抗你們，

10 One of you has chased a thousand, for the Lord our God, he fought for you, as he said to us.

你們一人能趕走千人，是因為上主你們的天主，照衪所應許的，親自為你們作戰。

11 And take you great heed to love the Lord our God.

你們要盡心盡力，愛慕上主你們的天主。

12 For if you shall turn aside and attach yourselves to these nations that are left with you, and make marriages with them, and become mingled with them and they with you,

如果你們背棄上主，依戀你們中間所剩餘的異族，同他們結婚，互相往來，

13 know that the Lord will no more destroy these nations from before you; and they will be to you snares and stumbling blocks, and nails in your heels, and darts in your eyes, until you be destroyed from off this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

你們就當知道，上主你們的天主必不從你們面前，趕走這個異族，你們必將成為你們的羅網和陷阱，打你們腰的鞭子，扎你們眼的芒刺，直到從上主你們的天主所賜給你們的這福地上，全被消滅。

14 But I hasten to go the way [of death], as all that are upon the earth also [do]: and you know in your heart and in your soul, that not one word has fallen [to the ground] of all the words which the Lord our God has spoken respecting all that concerns us; there has not one of them failed.

看我今天就要走世人必走的路，你們要一心一意地承認，上主你們的天主應許所賜給你們的話，沒有一句落空。

15 And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon us which the Lord God will bring upon you all the evil things, until he shall have destroyed you from off this good land, which the Lord has given you,

上主你們的天主對你們所應許的一切幸福，怎樣實行在你們身上，直到將你們從上主你們天主所賜與你們的這土地上消滅。

16 when you transgress the covenant of the Lord our God, which he has charged us, and go and serve other gods, and bow down to them.

如果你們違犯上主你們的天主與你們訂立的盟約，去事奉敬其他的神，上主必向你們大發忿怒，使你們迅速從你們的福地上消滅。