Joshua 1

1Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

1After Moses, the servant of the LORD, died, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' assistant, saying,

2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

2'My servant Moses is dead. Now, get ready! Cross the Jordan River, you and all these people, into the land that I am giving to them—to the people of Israel.

3Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses.

3I have given you every place where you set your foot, just as I promised Moses.

4From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.

4Your territory will stretch from the desert and Lebanon in the south to the great Euphrates River in the east—including all the Hittite country—and as far as the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

5No one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you just as I was with Moses; I will never fail you or abandon you.

6Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

6Be strong and brave! You will lead these people to inherit the land that I swore to give to their ancestors.

7Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest.

7Above all, be strong and very brave. Be careful to obey all the law that my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in everything you do.

8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

8Always keep this Book of the Law on your lips. Think about it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

9This is my command: Be strong and brave! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'

10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

10Then Joshua gave these orders to the officers of the people:

11Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah your God giveth you to possess it.

11'Go through the camp and tell the people, "Prepare your supplies. In three days you will cross the Jordan River to go in and take over the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own."'

12And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,

12Joshua also spoke to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,

13Remember the word which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, saying, Jehovah your God giveth you rest, and will give you this land.

13'Remember the command that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you when he said, "The LORD your God is giving you a place of rest and has given you this land."

14Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them;

14Your wives, your children, and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan River. But all your brave warriors must cross over in battle formation ahead of your fellow Israelites to help them.

15until Jehovah have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which Jehovah your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising.

15Help them until the LORD gives them rest, just as he has given you, and until they have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may return and settle in your own land, the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you on the east side of the Jordan.'

16And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou hast commanded us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go.

16They answered Joshua, 'We will do everything you have commanded us, and we will go wherever you send us.

17According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only Jehovah thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

17Just as we obeyed Moses in everything, we will obey you. Our only prayer is that the LORD your God will be with you just as he was with Moses.

18Whosoever he be that shall rebel against thy commandment, and shall not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage.

18Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey whatever you command will be put to death. Only be strong and brave!'