The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

24 Then Joshua assembled^(A) all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.^(B) He summoned^(C) the elders,^(D) leaders, judges and officials of Israel,^(E) and they presented themselves before God.

² Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor,^(F) lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.^(G)

¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord^(A) and serve him with all faithfulness.^(B) Throw away the gods^(C) your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt,^(D) and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,^(E) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,^(F) we will serve the Lord.”^(G)

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples^(A) turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.^(B)

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him,^(C) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.^(D)