⁶ Then Joshua tore his clothes^(A) and fell facedown^(B) to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening.^(C) The elders of Israel^(D) did the same, and sprinkled dust^(E) on their heads. ⁷ And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why^(F) did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?^(G) If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! ⁸ Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? ⁹ The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth.^(H) What then will you do for your own great name?^(I)”

²⁷ And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.^(A) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God^(B) was there,

³ Let us bring the ark of our God back to us,^(A) for we did not inquire^(B) of^[a] it^[b] during the reign of Saul.”