Chapter 23

And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest⁵² unto Israel from all their enemies⁶ round about, that Joshua waxed old¹ [and] stricken¹ in age.

And Joshua called⁴ for all Israel, [and] for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges,⁶ and for their officers,⁶ and said⁴ unto them, I am old¹ [and] stricken¹ in age:

And ye have seen¹ all that the LORD your God hath done¹ unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God [is] he that hath fought¹² for you.

Behold,³ I have divided⁵² unto you by lot these nations that remain,¹² to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off,⁵² even unto the great sea westward. ⁸¹²¹

And the LORD your God, he shall expel⁴ them from before you, and drive⁵² them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess¹ their land, as the LORD your God hath promised¹⁴ unto you.

Be ye therefore very courageous¹ to keep² and to do² all that is written⁷ in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside² therefrom [to] the right hand or [to] the left;

That ye come² not among these nations, these that remain¹² among you; neither make mention⁵⁵ of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear⁵⁵ [by them], neither serve⁴ them, nor bow¹⁰¹ yourselves unto them:

But cleave⁴ unto the LORD your God, as ye have done¹ unto this day.

For the LORD hath driven out⁵⁵ from before you great nations and strong: but [as for] you, no man hath been able to stand¹ before you unto this day.

One man of you shall chase⁴ a thousand: for the LORD your God, he [it is] that fighteth¹² for you, as he hath promised¹⁴ you.

Take good heed⁸ therefore unto yourselves, that ye love² the LORD your God.

Else if ye do in any wise² go back,⁴ and cleave¹ unto the remnant of these nations, [even] these that remain¹² among you, and shall make marriages⁹⁸ with them, and go in¹ unto them, and they to you:

Know⁴ for a certainty² that the LORD your God will no more⁵⁵ drive out⁵³ [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish² from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given¹ you.

And, behold, this day I [am] going⁶ the way of all the earth: and ye know¹ in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed¹ of all the good things which the LORD your God spake¹⁴ concerning you; all are come to pass¹ unto you, [and] not one thing hath failed¹ thereof.

Therefore it shall come to pass, [that] as all good things are come¹ upon you, which the LORD your God promised¹⁴ you; so shall the LORD bring⁵⁵ upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed⁵³ you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given¹ you.

When ye have transgressed² the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded¹⁴ you, and have gone¹ and served¹ other gods, and bowed⁹⁸ yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled¹ against you, and ye shall perish¹ quickly from off the good land which he hath given¹ unto you.