Joshua 9

1And it came to pass, when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;

1When all the kings west of the Jordan River heard what had happened—those in the hill country, the lowlands, and all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—

2that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

2they all came together as one group to fight against Joshua and Israel.

3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

3But when the people living in Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-skins, old and rent and bound up,

4they decided to use a clever trick. They went as a delegation, loading their donkeys with worn-out sacks and old, torn, patched-up wineskins.

5and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy.

5They put old, patched sandals on their feet and wore worn-out clothes. All the bread they brought for food was dry and moldy.

6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make ye a covenant with us.

6They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, 'We have come from a very distant country. Please make a peace treaty with us.'

7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?

7The men of Israel said to these Hivites, 'But what if you live near us? How can we make a treaty with you?'

8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

8They said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' Joshua asked them, 'Who are you and where do you come from?'

9And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of Jehovah thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

9They answered, 'Your servants have come from a very distant land because of the fame of the LORD your God. We heard reports of everything he did in Egypt,

10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

10and everything he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.

11And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: and now make ye a covenant with us.

11So our leaders and all the people of our country told us, "Take food for your journey and go meet them. Tell them: We are your servants; please make a treaty with us."

12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy:

12This bread of ours was hot when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, now it is dry and moldy.

13and these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

13These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are torn. Our clothes and sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.'

14And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.

14The men of Israel sampled their food but did not ask the LORD for his advice.

15And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

15So Joshua made a peace treaty with them to let them live, and the leaders of the community confirmed it with an oath.

16And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.

16Three days after they made the treaty, the Israelites found out that these people were actually their neighbors, living right nearby.

17And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

17The Israelites set out and reached their cities three days later. These cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

18And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

18But the Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. However, the whole community complained against the leaders.

19But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

19All the leaders answered the community, 'We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, so we cannot touch them now.

20This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.

20This is what we will do: we will let them live so that God’s anger does not fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.'

21And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.

21The leaders continued, 'Let them live, but they will become woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community.' So the leaders kept their promise to them.

22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

22Then Joshua called for the Gibeonites and said, 'Why did you trick us? You said you lived far away, but you live right here among us.

23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

23Now you are under a curse: You will always be servants, cutting wood and carrying water for the house of my God.'

24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that Jehovah thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

24They answered Joshua, 'Your servants were told for a fact that the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this whole land and to destroy all its people. So we were terrified for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.

25And now, behold, we are in thy hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

25Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is good and right.'

26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

26So Joshua protected them and did not let the Israelites kill them.

27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.

27That day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the LORD’s altar at the place the LORD would choose, and they still do this today.