Joshua 24:14-28

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁴ “Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord. ¹⁵ But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the Lord.”

¹⁶ The people responded, “It would be unthinkable for us to abandon the Lord to serve other gods. ¹⁷ The Lord our God brought us and our ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. He did these spectacular signs right before our eyes. He guarded us wherever we went, especially as we passed through other nations. ¹⁸ The Lord forced out all the people ahead of us, including the Amorites who lived in this land. We, too, will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”

¹⁹ But Joshua answered the people, “Since the Lord is a holy God, you can’t possibly serve him. He is a God who does not tolerate rivals. He will not forgive your rebellious acts and sins. ²⁰ If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although he has been so good to you.”

²¹ The people answered Joshua, “No! We will ⌞only⌟ serve the Lord!”

²² Joshua said to the people, “You have testified that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

They answered, “Yes, we have!”

²³ “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Turn yourselves entirely over to the Lord God of Israel.”

²⁴ The people replied to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

²⁵ That day Joshua made an agreement for the people and set up laws and rules for them at Shechem. ²⁶ Joshua wrote these things in the Book of God’s Teachings. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree at the Lord’s holy place. ²⁷ Joshua told all the people, “This stone will stand as a witness for us. It has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us. It will stand as a witness for you. You cannot deceive your God.” ²⁸ Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own property.