Joshua's Farewell Charge

Joshua 23

Now old and near death, Joshua assembles the elders, chiefs, and judges of Israel and reminds them how the Lord has fought for them and driven out their enemies. He urges them to keep the law of Moses, to cling to the Lord alone, and warns that mingling with the remaining nations and their gods will bring on Israel the same evils the Lord once brought on their enemies.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW after many years, when the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies round about,

BrentonAnd it came to pass after many days after the Lord had given Israel rest from all his enemies round about, that Joshua was old and advanced in years.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο μεθʼ ἡμέρας πλείους μετὰ τὸ καταπαῦσαι Κύριον τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ κυκλόθεν, καὶ Ἰησοῦς πρεσβύτερος προβεβηκὼς ταῖς ἡμέραις.

KJVAnd it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

JPSAnd it came to pass after many days, when the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

ThomsonJoshua being far advanced in years, convoked all the sons of Israel, their elders, and their chiefs, and their judges, and their under officers, and said to them, I am grown old, and am far advanced in years.

BrentonAnd Joshua called together all the children of Israel, and their elders, and their chiefs, and their judges, and their officers; and said to them, I am old and advanced in years.

GreekΚαὶ συνεκάλεσεν Ἰησοῦς πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ καὶ τὴν γερουσίαν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς δικαστὰς αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἐγὼ γεγήρακα καὶ προβέβηκα ταῖς ἡμέραις·

KJVAnd Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

JPSthat Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said unto them: ‘I am old and well stricken in years.

ThomsonNow you have seen all that the Lord our God hath done to these nations for your sake; for it is the Lord your God Who hath fought for you.

BrentonAnd ye have seen all that the Lord our God has done to all these nations before us; for it is the Lord our God who has fought for you.

GreekὙμεῖς δὲ ἑωράκατε ὅσα ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσι τούτοις ἀπὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν, ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν ὁ ἐκπολεμήσας ὑμῖν.

KJVAnd ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

JPSAnd ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God, He it is that hath fought for you.

ThomsonYou see that I have thrown in among the lots for your tribes, the nations which are left by you, with all the nations which I have exterminated between the Jordan and the great sea, which is to be your western boundary.

BrentonSee, that I have given to you these nations that are left to you by lots to your tribes, all the nations beginning at Jordan; and some I have destroyed; and the boundaries shall be at the great sea westward.

GreekἼδετε ὅτι ἐπέῤῥιφα ὑμῖν τὰ ἔθνη τὰ καταλελειμμένα ὑμῖν ταῦτα ἐν τοῖς κλήροις εἰς τὰς φυλὰς ὑμῶν, ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἐξωλόθρευσα, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς μεγάλης ὁριεῖ ἐπὶ δυσμὰς ἡλίου.

KJVBehold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

JPSBehold, I have allotted unto you for an inheritance, according to your tribes, these nations that remain, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun.

ThomsonThe Lord our God will Himself root them out from before you until they be destroyed. He will send the wild beasts against them, until they utterly destroy them and their kings from before you, so that you may possess their land, as the Lord our God hath spoken to you.

BrentonAnd the Lord our God, he shall destroy them before us, until they utterly perish; and he shall send against them the wild beasts, until he shall have utterly destroyed them and their kings from before you; and ye shall inherit their land, as the Lord our God said to you.

GreekΚύριος δὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν οὗτος ἐξολοθρεύσει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου ἡμῶν, ἕως ἂν ἀπόλωνται· καὶ ἀποστελεῖ αὐτοῖς τὰ θηρία τὰ ἄγρια, ἕως ἂν ἐξολοθρεύσῃ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, καὶ κατακληρονομήσετε τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, καθὰ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν ὑμῖν.

KJVAnd the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

JPSAnd the LORD your God, He shall thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God spoke unto you.

ThomsonBe strong therefore to keep with all diligence, and to do all that are written in the book of the law of Moses, that you may not turn aside to the right, nor to the left.

BrentonDo ye therefore strive diligently to observe and do all things written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not to the right hand or to the left;

GreekΚατισχύσατε οὖν σφόδρα φυλάσσειν καὶ ποιεῖν πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τοῦ νόμου Μωυσῆ, ἵνα μὴ ἐκκλίνητε εἰς δεξιὰ ἢ εὐώνυμα,

KJVBe ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

JPSTherefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

ThomsonThat you may have no fellowship with those nations which are left, the names of their gods must not be mentioned among you; nor shall you perform religious service to them, nor worship them;

Brentonthat ye go not in among these nations that are left; and the names of their gods shall not be named among you, neither shall ye serve them, neither shall ye bow down to them.

Greekὅπως μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὰ ἔθνη τὰ καταλελειμμένα ταῦτα· καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν οὐκ ὀνομασθήσεται ἐν ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσητε, οὐδὲ μὴ προσκυνήσητε αὐτοῖς,

KJVThat ye come not 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:

JPSthat ye come not 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 worship them;

Thomsonbut you shall cleave to the Lord our God, as you have done to this day.

BrentonBut ye shall cleave to the Lord our God, as ye have done until this day.

Greekἀλλὰ Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν προσκολληθήσεσθε, καθάπερ ἐποιήσατε ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

KJVBut cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

JPSbut cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day;

ThomsonThen will the Lord root them out from before you, though they are great and powerful nations. None indeed have been able to stand before you even to this day.

BrentonAnd the Lord shall destroy them before you, even great and strong nations; and no one has stood before us until this day.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξολοθρεύσει αὐτοὺς Κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ἔθνη μεγάλα καὶ ἰσχυρά· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀντέστη κατενώπιον ἡμῶν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

KJVFor the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

JPSwherefore the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and mighty; but as for you, no man hath stood against you unto this day.

ThomsonOne of you hath chased a thousand, because the Lord our God Himself fought for you, as He promised you.

BrentonOne of you has chased a thousand, for the Lord our God, he fought for you, as he said to you.

GreekΕἷς ὑμῶν ἐδίωξε χιλίους, ὅτι Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν οὗτος ἐξεπολέμει ὑμῖν, καθάπερ εἶπεν ἡμῖν.

KJVOne man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

JPSOne man of you hath chased a thousand; for the LORD your God, He it is that fought for you, as He spoke unto you.

ThomsonTherefore take good heed to love the Lord our God.

BrentonAnd take ye great heed to love the Lord our God.

GreekΚαὶ φυλάξασθε σφόδρα τοῦ ἀγαπᾷν Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν.

KJVTake good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

JPSTake good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

ThomsonFor if you turn away, and join yourselves with those nations which are left with you, and intermarry with them, and be mixed with them, and they with you,

BrentonFor if ye shall turn aside and attach yourselves to these nations that are left with you, and make marriages with them, and become mingled with them and they with you,

GreekἘὰν γὰρ ἀποστραφῆτε καὶ προσθῆσθε τοῖς ὑπολειφθεῖσιν ἔθνεσι τούτοις τοῖς μεθʼ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπιγαμίας ποιήσητε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, καὶ συγκαταμιγῆτε αὐτοῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑμῖν,

KJVElse if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto 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:

JPSElse if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;

Thomsonbe assured that the Lord will no more drive out those nations from before you; but they shall be to you snares and stumbling blocks, and nails in your heels, and darts in your eyes, until you be destroyed from this good land, which the Lord your God hath given you.

Brentonknow that the Lord will no more destroy these nations from before you; and they will be to you snares and stumbling-blocks, and nails in your heels, and darts in your eyes, until ye be destroyed from off this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

Greekγινώσκετε ὅτι οὐ μὴ προσθῇ Κύριος τοῦ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν· καὶ ἔσονται ὑμῖν εἰς παγίδας, καὶ εἰς σκάνδαλα, καὶ εἰς ἥλους ἐν ταῖς πτέρναις ὑμῶν, καὶ εἰς βολίδας ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν, ἕως ἂν ἀπόλησθε ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ταύτης, ἣν ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν.

KJVKnow for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

JPSknow for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and pricks in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

ThomsonAs for me, I am going speedily the way of all who are on the earth. Now you must know in your heart, and in your soul, that not one word hath failed of all that the Lord our God hath said. With respect to all that have come to us, not one of them have failed.

BrentonBut I hasten to go the way of death, as all that are upon the earth also do: and know ye in your heart and in your soul, that not one word has fallen to the ground of all the words which the Lord our God has spoken respecting all that concerns us; there has not one of them failed.

GreekἘγὼ δὲ ἀποτρέχω τὴν ὁδὸν, καθὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· καὶ γνώσεσθε τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν καὶ τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν, διότι οὐκ ἔπεσεν εἷς λόγος ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν λόγων, ὧν εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν πρὸς πάντα τὰ ἀνήκοντα ἡμῖν, οὐ διεφώνησεν ἐξ αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

JPSAnd, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth; consider ye therefore in all your heart and in all your soul, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof.

ThomsonNow as all the good things, which the Lord hath spoken respecting you, have come to you, so the Lord God will bring upon you all the evil things, until He destroy you from this good land, which the Lord hath given you,

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon us which the Lord spoke concerning you, so the Lord God will bring upon you all the evil things, until he shall have destroyed you from off this good land, which the Lord has given you,

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ἥκει πρὸς ἡμᾶς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τὰ καλὰ, ἃ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς· οὕτως ἐπάξει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τὰ πονηρὰ ἕως ἂν ἐξολοθρεύσῃ ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τῆς ἀγαθῆς ταύτης, ἧς ἔδωκε Κύριος ὑμῖν,

KJVTherefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which the LORD your God spoke unto you, so shall the LORD bring upon you all the evil things, until He have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

Thomsonwhen you transgress the covenant of the Lord our God, which He hath commanded us, and go and serve other gods and worship them.

Brentonwhen ye transgress the covenant of the Lord our God, which he has charged us, and go and serve other gods, and bow down to them.

Greekἐν τῷ παραβῆναι ὑμᾶς τὴν διαθήκην Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ἣν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν, καὶ πορευθέντες λατρεύσητε θεοῖς ἑτέροις καὶ προσκυνήσητε αὐτοῖς.

KJVWhen ye 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 ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

JPSWhen ye transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given unto you.’