 1 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister saying, 2 My servant Moses is dead. Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people to the land that I give to them, to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, I have given that to you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage. For you will divide for an inheritance to this people, the land that I swore to their fathers, to give it to them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous so that you may be careful to do according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may act wisely wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will act wisely. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you in all places where you go. 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people saying, 11 Pass through the host, and command the people saying, Prepare food for yourselves, for within three days you are crossing over this Jordan to go in to possess the land that the Lord your God is giving to you to possess it. 12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to half the tribe of Manasseh, saying: 13 Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you saying, The Lord your God has given you rest and has given you this land. 14 your wives, your little children, and your cattle shall remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side Jordan. But you shall go armed before your brothers, all the mighty men of valor, and help them 15 until the Lord has given your brothers rest, even as you, and they also have possessed the land that the Lord your God gives them. And you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side Jordan, towards the sunrise. 16 They answered Joshua, saying: We will do all that you command us, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so we will listen to you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and will not listen to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death. Only be strong and of a good courage.
|