(KJV) Joshua 23¹

⥃Joshua’s Charge to Leaders

[1] And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord² had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old³ [and] stricken in age⁴. [2] And Joshua called for all Israel⁵, [and] for their elders⁶, 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 ye⁷ have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the⁸ Lord your God [is] he that hath fought for you. [4] Behold⁹, 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 westward¹⁰. [5] And the Lord your God, he shall¹¹ expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord¹² your God hath promised unto you. [6] Be ye therefore very¹³ courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye¹⁴ turn not aside therefrom [to] the right hand or [to] the left; [7] That ye come¹⁵ not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither¹⁶ make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear¹⁷ [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.¹⁸ [9] For the Lord¹⁹ hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but [as for] you, no man²⁰ hath been able to stand before you unto this day. [10] One man²¹ of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord²² your God, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. [11] Take good²³ heed therefore unto yourselves²⁴, that ye love²⁵ the Lord your God. [12] Else if ye do in any wise go back²⁶, and cleave²⁷ unto the remnant of these nations, [even] these that remain among you, and shall make²⁸ marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: [13] Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no²⁹ more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall be snares³⁰ and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish³¹ from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. [14] And, behold, this day I [am] going³² the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing³³ 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 shall³⁴ 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 shall³⁵ the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish³⁶ quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.