Joshua 23

1 And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued, and Josue being now old, and far advanced in years:

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,

2 Josue called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for the princes, and for the judges, and for the masters, and said to them: I am old, and far advanced in years:

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

3 And you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you:

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.

4 And now since he hath divided to you by lot all the land, from the east of the Jordan unto the great sea, and many nations yet remain:

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.

5 The Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you.

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.

6 Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor to the left:

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.

7 Lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them:

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.

8 But cleave ye unto the Lord your God: as you have done until this day.

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

9 And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and very strong, and no man shall be able to resist you.

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

10 One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised.

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

11 This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God.

Take great care to love the Lord your God.

12 But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships:

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,

13 Know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumblingblock at your side, and stakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you.

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.

14 Behold this day I am going into the way of all the earth, and you shall know with all your mind that of all the words which the Lord promised to perform for you, not one hath failed.

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.

15 Therefore as he hath fulfilled in deed, what he promised, and all things prosperous have come: so Will he bring upon you all the evils he hath threatened, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you,

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.

16 When you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he hath made with you, and shall have served strange gods, and adored them: then shall the indignation of the Lord rise up quickly and speedily against you, and you shall be taken away from this excellent land, which he hath delivered to you.

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.”