Joshua 23

Joshua’s Farewell Address

1 And it happened, after a long time,*Literally "many days" after Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and after Joshua was old and well-advanced in years,*Literally "he went into the days"2 Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders, heads, judges, and officials, and he said to them, "I am old and well-advanced in years,*Literally "I went into the days"3 and you have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations for your sake,*Literally "because of your presence" for Yahweh your God is fighting for you. 4 Look! I have allotted to you these remaining nations as an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, to the Great Sea*That is, the Mediterranean in the west.*Literally "to the setting of the sun"5 And Yahweh your God will push them back before you*Literally "from your presence" and drive them out of your sight,*Literally "from your face" and you will possess their land, just as Yahweh your God promised to you. 6 Be very strong to observe carefully all that is written in the scroll of the law of Moses so as not to turn aside from it, to the right or left, 7 so as not to go among these remaining nations with you; do not profess*Literally "do not mention" the name of their gods, and do not swear by them, serve them, or bow down to them.*Literally "bow yourselves down to them"8 But hold fast to Yahweh your God, just as you have done up to this day. 9 Yahweh has driven out before you great and strong nations; and as for you, nobody has withstood*Literally "a man has not stood in your presence" you to this day. 10 One of your men put to flight a thousand, for Yahweh your God is fighting for you, just as he promised you. 11 Take utmost care for the sake of your life to love Yahweh your God, 12 for if indeed you turn back and join these remaining nations among you,*Literally "with you" and you intermarry with them, marrying their women and they yours,*Literally "you go into them and they into you"13 know for certain that Yahweh your God will not continue to drive out*Literally "will not drive out again" these nations from before you; they will be for you a snare and a trap, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that Yahweh your God has given to you.

14 Look! I am about to die,*Literally "I am going today on the way of all the earth" and you know in all your hearts*Hebrew "heart" and souls*Hebrew "soul"; or "inner self" that not one thing failed*Literally "fell" from all the good things that Yahweh your God promised concerning you; everything has been fulfilled;*Literally "has come out" not one thing failed.*Literally "not one thing fell from it"15 But just as all the good things*Hebrew "thing" came to you that Yahweh your God promised, so will Yahweh bring to you all the bad things*Hebrew "things" until he has destroyed you from this good land that Yahweh your God has given to you. 16 If you transgress the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded to you, and you go and serve other gods and bow down to them, Yahweh’s anger will be kindled*Literally "Yahweh’s nose will become hot" against you, and you will perish quickly from the good land that he has given to you."