Joshua - Chapter 23
AND
it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from
all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in
age.
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 unto them, I am old and
stricken in age:
3 And ye
have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because
of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
4 Behold,
I have divided unto 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
unto the great sea westward.
5 And the
LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of
your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised
unto 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 therefrom to the right hand or to
the left;
7 That ye
come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention
of the names of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve
them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
8 But
cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto 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 unto this day.
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.
11 Take
good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12 Else
if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even
these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto
them, and they to you:
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 unto 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.
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 spake concerning you; all are come to pass
unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
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 have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your
God hath 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 unto you.
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