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.
23:2 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:
23:3 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.
23:4 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.
23:5 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.
23:6 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;
23:7 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:
23:8 But cleave to the LORD your God, as ye have done to this
day.
23:9 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.
23:10 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.
23:11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that ye love the
LORD your God.
23:12 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:
23:13 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.
23:14 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.
23:15 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.
23:16 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.
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