Joshua 24:16-28

English Standard Version

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, ¹⁷ for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. ¹⁸ And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

¹⁹ But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is ^(A)a holy God. He is ^(B)a jealous God; ^(C)he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. ^20 (D)If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then ^(E)he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” ²¹ And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” ²² Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that ^(F)you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” ²³ He said, “Then ^(G)put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” ²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” ²⁵ So Joshua ^(H)made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place ^(I)statutes and rules for them at Shechem. ²⁶ And Joshua ^(J)wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And ^(K)he took a large stone and set it up there ^(L)under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. ²⁷ And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, ^(M)this stone shall be a witness against us, for ^(N)it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” ²⁸ So Joshua ^(O)sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.