¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake^(A) the Lord to serve other gods! ¹⁷ It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery,^(B) and performed those great signs^(C) before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. ¹⁸ And the Lord drove out^(D) before us all the nations,^(E) including the Amorites, who lived in the land.^(F) We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.^(G)”