Joshua, Chapter 23

1. And it came to pass a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua grew old and advanced 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 to them, I am old and advanced in age:    3. And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that has fought for you.    4. Behold, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea westward.    5. And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them away out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God has promised to you.    6. Be therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you turn not aside from it to the right hand or to the left;    7. That you do not come 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:    8. But cling to the LORD your God, as you have done until this day.    9. For the LORD has driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man has been able to stand before you until this day.    10. One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fights for you, as he has promised you.    11. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.    12. Else if you do at all go back, and cling to 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 longer drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish off of this good land which the LORD your God has 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 has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you; all have come to pass unto you, and not one thing has failed thereof.    15. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things have come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he has destroyed you off of this good land which the LORD your God has given you.    16. When you 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 you shall perish quickly off of the good land which he has given to you.