Joshua 23

1 And it came to pass a long time after that יהוה had given rest unto Yisrael from all their enemies round about, that Joshua (Yehoshua) waxed old and stricken in age.

2 And Joshua (Yehoshua) called for all Yisrael, 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 you have seen all that יהוה your God (Elohim) hath done unto all these nations because of you; for יהוה your God (Elohim) 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 (Yarden), with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

5 And יהוה your God (Elohim), He shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as יהוה your God (Elohim) hath promised unto you.

6 Be you therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the 28bBook of the Torah by Moses (Mosheh), that you turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

7 That you come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods (elohim), nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

8 But cleave unto יהוה your God (Elohim), as you have done unto this day.

9 For יהוה 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 יהוה your God (Elohim), He it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you.

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that you love יהוה your God (Elohim).

12 Else if you 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 יהוה your God (Elohim) 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 you perish from off this good land which יהוה your God (Elohim) hath given you.

14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth; and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which יהוה your God (Elohim) 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 יהוה your God (Elohim) promised you; so shall יהוה bring upon you all evil things, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which יהוה your God (Elohim) hath given you.

16 When you have transgressed the covenant of יהוה your God (Elohim), which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods (elohim), and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of יהוה be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given unto you.”