English / ERV
Joshua 23
Easy-to-Read Version, 2006
- 1The LORD gave Israel peace from their enemies around them. He made Israel safe. Many years passed, and Joshua became very old.
- 2At this time Joshua called a meeting of all the older leaders, heads of families, judges, and officers of the Israelites. Joshua said, “I have grown very old.
- 3You have seen what the LORD did to our enemies. He did this to help us. The LORD your God fought for you.
- 4Remember that I told you that your people could have the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. I promised to give you that land, but you don’t control it yet. I have taken the land away from those nations, but they are still living there.
- 5But the LORD your God will force the people living there to leave. You will take that land. The LORD will force them to leave, just as he promised.
- 6“You must be careful to obey every command written in the Book of the Law[1] of Moses. Never turn away from that law.
- 7There are still some people living among us who are not Israelites. They worship their own gods. Don’t become friends with them. Don’t serve or worship their gods.
- 8You must continue to follow the LORD your God. You have done this in the past, and you must continue to do it.
- 9“The LORD helped you defeat many great and powerful nations. He forced them to leave. No nation has been able to defeat you.
- 10With his help, one man from Israel could defeat 1000 enemy soldiers, because the LORD your God fights for you, as he promised.
- 11So you must continue to love the LORD your God.
- 12“Never stop following him. Don’t become friends with those people who did not leave when you took the land. They are not part of Israel. Don’t marry any of their people. If you become friends with those people,