Joshua

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

1Moses, God's servant, had died. After that, the LORD spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun. Joshua had been Moses' helper.

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.

2God said, "My servant Moses is dead. Now get up. Cross the Jordan River with all these people. Go into the land I am giving to Israel."

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

3"Every place you walk, I have given to you. That is what 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 coast.

4"Your land will reach from the dry desert to Lebanon. It will reach to the big river called the Euphrates. It will include all the land of the Hittites. It will reach west to the great sea."

Note"Toward the going down of the sun" means toward the west, where the sun sets. The "great sea" is the Mediterranean Sea.

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.

5"No one will be able to beat you as long as you live. I was with Moses, and I will be with you. I will never leave you. I will never turn away from you."

6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

6"Be strong and brave. You will divide this land among the people. It is the land I promised long ago to their grandfathers."

7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest 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 prosper whithersoever thou goest.

7"Most of all, be strong and very brave. Carefully obey all the rules Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, not even a little. Then things will go well wherever you go."

8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein 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.

8"Keep saying the words of this book of rules. Think about them all day and all night. Then you will be careful to do what it says. Then you will do well and succeed."

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

9"I am the one telling you this. Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. The LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

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

10Then Joshua gave orders to the leaders who helped him.

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

11"Walk through the camp. Tell the people to get food ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River. You will go in and take the land. The LORD your God is giving it to you."

Note"Victuals" is an old word for food.

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

12Joshua also spoke to the families of Reuben and Gad. He spoke to half the family of Manasseh too.

13Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.

13He said, "Remember what Moses, the LORD's servant, told you. He said the LORD your God would give you a safe home. He said God would give you this land."

14Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;

14"Your wives, your children, and your animals may stay here. This land east of the Jordan is the land Moses gave you. But your strong fighting men must cross the river first. Go ahead of your brothers, and help them."

Note"Little ones" means young children, and "cattle" means farm animals of any kind, not just cows.

15Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.

15"Stay with them until the LORD gives them a safe home too. Stay until they own the land the LORD is giving them. Then you may come back to your own land. It is the land Moses gave you east of the Jordan."

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

16The people answered Joshua, "We will do everything you tell us. We will go anywhere you send us."

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

17"We obeyed Moses in everything. We will obey you the same way. We only ask that the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses."

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

18"Anyone who refuses to obey your orders will be put to death. Most of all, be strong and brave!"