Chazak! Be strong!

1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Adonai that Adonai spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide saying: ² “My servant Moses is dead. So now, arise, you and all these people, cross over this Jordan to the land that I am giving to them—to Bnei-Yisrael. ³ Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I am giving to you, as I spoke to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—to the Great Sea^[a] toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. ⁵ No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you. ⁶ Chazak! Be strong! For you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be very strong, and resolute to observe diligently the Torah which Moses, My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ This book of the Torah should not depart from your mouth—you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will be successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Chazak! Be strong! Do not be terrified or dismayed, for Adonai your God is with you wherever you go.”

¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officials of the people saying: ¹¹ “Go through the camp and charge the people saying: ‘Prepare provisions, for within three days you will be crossing over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which Adonai your God is giving you to possess it.’”

¹² Then Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, Gadites and half-tribe of Manasseh saying: ¹³ “Remember the word that Moses the servant of Adonai commanded you saying: ‘Adonai your God has given you rest, and has assigned to you this land.’ ¹⁴ Your wives, your little ones and your cattle will remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you will cross over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and will help them ¹⁵ until Adonai gives your brothers rest, as He has given you, and they also possess the land that Adonai your God is giving them. Then you will return to the land of your inheritance, and possess what Moses the servant of Adonai gave you, beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

¹⁶ Then they answered Joshua saying: “All that you have commanded us, we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may Adonai your God be with you as He was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, he will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”