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)

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

¹⁹ Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God;^(O) he is a jealous God.^(P) He will not forgive^(Q) your rebellion^(R) and your sins. ²⁰ If you forsake the Lord^(S) and serve foreign gods, he will turn^(T) and bring disaster^(U) on you and make an end of you,^(V) 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^(W) against yourselves that you have chosen^(X) to serve the Lord.”

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

²³ “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods^(Z) that are among you and yield your hearts^(AA) to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”^(AB)

²⁵ On that day Joshua made a covenant^(AC) for the people, and there at Shechem^(AD) he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.^{(AE) 26} And Joshua recorded^(AF) these things in the Book of the Law of God.^(AG) Then he took a large stone^(AH) and set it up there under the oak^(AI) near the holy place of the Lord.

²⁷ “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone^(AJ) will be a witness^(AK) against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue^(AL) to your God.”^(AM)

Treasures in Heaven^(A)

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^(B) where moths and vermin destroy,^(C) and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(D) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^{(E) 21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(F)

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.^(G)

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^(A) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,^(B) just as you would obey Christ.^{(C) 6} Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,^(D) doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,^{(E) 8} because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^(F) whether they are slave or free.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours^(G) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(H) with him.