¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you^(A) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.^(B) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live

¹⁵ See, I set before you today life^(A) and prosperity,^(B) death^(C) and destruction.^(D)

²⁶ See, I am setting before you today a blessing^(A) and a curse^(B)—

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,^(A) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,^(B) we will serve the Lord.”^(C)

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake^(D) 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,^(E) and performed those great signs^(F) 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^(G) before us all the nations,^(H) including the Amorites, who lived in the land.^(I) We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.^(J)”

¹⁹ Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God;^(K) he is a jealous God.^(L) He will not forgive^(M) your rebellion^(N) and your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake the Lord^(O) and serve foreign gods, he will turn^(P) and bring disaster^(Q) on you and make an end of you,^(R) after he has been good to you.”

²¹ But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

²² Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses^(S) against yourselves that you have chosen^(T) to serve the Lord.”

“Yes, we are witnesses,^(U)” they replied.

Prosperity After Turning to the Lord

30 When all these blessings and curses^(A) I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations,^(B)

²¹ I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(A) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a](A) Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”