Joshua 23

1 And it came to pass, a long time after that the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on all sides, that Joshua became old [and] advanced in age.

A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years,

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, [and] for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them, I am old [and] advanced in age:

he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,

3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done to all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God [is] he that hath fought for you.

“and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.

4 Behold, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea westward.

See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan westward to the Great Sea.

5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised to you.

The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.

6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside from it [to] the right hand or [to] the left;

Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right 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 yourselves to them:

So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.

8 But cleave to the LORD your God, as ye have done to this day.

Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.

9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but [as for] you, no man hath been able to stand before you to this day.

The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you.

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.

11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.

12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave to the remnant of these nations, [even] these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and associate with them, and they with you:

For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,

13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has 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 the LORD your God spoke concerning you: all are come to pass to you, [and] not one thing hath failed of it.

Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.

15 Therefore it shall come to pass, [that] as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he hath destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you.

16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given to you.

If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”