CHAPTER 23

1 And it was after many days, after Jehovah gave rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua became old and stricken in years.

2 Then Joshua called all Israel, their elders, their heads, and their judges, and their prefects, and said to them, I am old and stricken in years,

3 And you have seen all that Jehovah your God has given to all those nations in your sight, because Jehovah your God has fought for you.

4 See that those remaining nations have been distributed to you for an inheritance by your tribes, from the Jordan, and all the nations which I have destroyed, even to the great sea towards the setting of the sun.

5 And Jehovah your God will himself drive them before you, and will drive them out from your presence, and you shall possess their land by hereditary right, as Jehovah your God spoke to you.

6 Be very strong, therefore, to keep and do whatever is written in the book of the law of Moses, not to recede from it, either to the right hand or the left;

7 Do not become mingled with those nations which remain with you, and do not make mention of the name of their gods, nor swear by them, nor serve them, nor bow yourselves to them;

8 But cleave to Jehovah your God, as you have done even to this day.

9 Therefore he has driven out before you great nations and strong, nor has any one stood in your presence even to this day.

10 One man of you has pursued a thousand, because Jehovah your God is he who fights for you, as he had spoken to you.

11 Be very watchful over your souls in loving Jehovah your God.

12 For if you shall turn and turn away, and adhere to those remaining nations, those remaining nations, I say, which are with you, and contract marriages with them, and mingle yourselves with them, and they with you;

13 Then know how that after this Jehovah your God will not drive out all those nations from your face; but they will be to you for a snare, and an offence, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from that best land which Jehovah your God has given you.

14 And lo, I am this day entering the way of all the earth; know, therefore, with your whole heart and your whole soul, that not one word has fallen of all the most excellent words which Jehovah your God spoke over you; all things have happened to you; not one word of them has fallen.

15 Therefore, as every good word which Jehovah your God spoke to you has been fulfilled, so Jehovah will bring upon you every evil word, until he destroy you from that best land which Jehovah your God has given you.

16 When you shall have transgressed the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you, and shall have gone away and served other gods, and bowed yourselves unto them, the wrath of Jehovah will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from the most excellent land which he has given you.