6 Now the gates of Jericho^(A) were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

²⁴ They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands;^(A) all the people are melting in fear^(B) because of us.”

⁹ and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear^(A) of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. ¹⁰ We have heard how the Lord dried up^(B) the water of the Red Sea^[a] for you when you came out of Egypt,^(C) and what you did to Sihon and Og,^(D) the two kings of the Amorites^(E) east of the Jordan,^(F) whom you completely destroyed.^{[b](G) 11} When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear^(H) and everyone’s courage failed^(I) because of you,^(J) for the Lord your God^(K) is God in heaven above and on the earth^(L) below.

¹² “Now then, please swear to me^(M) by the Lord that you will show kindness^(N) to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign^{(O) 13} that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them^(P)—and that you will save us from death.”

¹⁴ “Our lives for your lives!”^(Q) the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully^(R) when the Lord gives us the land.”

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

⁴ But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So^[a] king of Egypt,^(A) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.^(B)

⁷ So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan,^(A) and as soon as the pursuers^(B) had gone out, the gate was shut.