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Joshua

Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land, conquering it through many battles.

Chapter 23

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1 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.

*After a long time of peace for Israel from their surrounding enemies, the LORD gave, Joshua grew old and weak.

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:

*Joshua summoned everyone in Israel, the leaders, the judges, and the officials, and told them, "I'm old and my time is almost up."

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.

*You saw how the Lord your God helped you by fighting against other nations because of 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.

*Look, I have given these remaining nations as a inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan River to the big sea in the west, including all the other nations I have defeated.

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.

*And God will remove them so you don't see them anymore. Then you can take over their land, just like God promised.

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;

*So be really brave in following the rules in the book of Moses' laws. Don't go off track to the right or left.

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 unto them:

*Don't join these other nations who live nearby, and don't talk about their gods. Don't promise things using their gods or worship them, or show respect by bowing down to them.

8 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

*But stay close to your God, just like you have been doing until now.

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.

*The LORD has removed big and powerful nations out of your way. However, nobody has been able to fight against you successfully so far.

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.

*One person can chase a thousand, because the Lord fights for you, just as He promised.

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

*So, pay close attention to yourselves and make sure you truly love 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:

*If you turn back and connect with the remaining people from other nations around you, and marry them, and have close relationships:

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.

*Be sure that God won't remove all these remaining people from your path. Instead, they will act like traps and cause trouble for you, like a painful wound, and be like annoying thorns in your eyes. All this will happen until you are gone from the good land God gave 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.

*And look, today I am going the way of everyone on earth. You know in your hearts and souls that every good thing the Lord your God promised about you has happened, with nothing missing, just as he said.

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.

*So, when all the good things happen to you that the Lord promised, He will also bring bad things until He completely destroys you from the good land He gave 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.

*When you break God's rules and worship other gods, He will be very angry with you, and you will quickly disappear from the good land He gave to you.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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