Joshua 23
1 Yahweh enabled the Israelis to live peacefully [for many years] with the people-groups that were around them.
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 Joshua was now very old. [One day] he summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the leaders of the clans, the judges, and [other] officials. He said to them, “I am now very old.
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 You people have seen what Yahweh our God has done to help you defeat the people-groups [that lived in this land]. Yahweh our God 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 But do not forget that he has given to you all this land, from the Jordan [River in the east] to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, all this land that I have allotted to you.
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 Yahweh our God will compel the people who are still living there to leave. He will push them out as you advance. Then the land will be yours, as Yahweh has promised 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 “Be sure that you obey all the laws that are in the book that Moses wrote. Do not disobey any part of it [IDM].
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 Do not associate with the people who live among us [who are not Israelis and who worship other gods]. Do not mention the names of their gods, and do not use the names of their gods when you promise to do something. Do not serve their gods or worship 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 You must continue to do what Yahweh our God wants us to do, as you have been doing.
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 “Yahweh has forced [many] very powerful people-groups to leave as you advanced. No people-group has been able to defeat you.
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 Each of you will be able to cause 1,000 of them to run away, because Yahweh your God will fight for you, just like he promised to do.
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 So be sure that you continue to love Yahweh our God.
你們要盡心盡力，愛慕上主你們的天主。
12 “If you turn away from doing what Yahweh desires and you associate with the people who are not Israelis, and if you marry them,
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 then you can be sure that Yahweh our God will not help you to expel those people-groups from your land. They will be [like] traps [DOU, MET] [that will catch you]. They will be [like] whips [that strike] your backs, and like thorns [that will scratch] your eyes. As a result, none of you will be left in this good land that Yahweh our God is giving to 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 “It is almost time for me to die, like everyone does [EUP]. You know in your hearts [DOU] that Yahweh has done for you [LIT] everything that he promised to do.
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 He has given to you all the good things that he promised. In the same way, the other things that he promised, [things that are not good], will also happen. He said that if you do what is evil, he will get rid of you and send you away from this good land that he has given to 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 That will happen if you do not obey the commands that Yahweh our God told you to obey. If you serve other gods and worship them, Yahweh will become very angry with you. Very quickly [he will expel you from] this good land that he has given to you, [and] none of you will be left here.”
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。
