14"Now, therefore, 1fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and putaway the godswhich your fathersservedbeyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
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"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves todaywhom you will serve: whether the godswhich your fathersservedwhich were beyond the River, or 2the gods of the Amorites in whoseland you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
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The peopleanswered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serveothergods;
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for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and whodidthesegreatsigns in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whosemidst we passed.
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"The LORDdrove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God."
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Then Joshuasaid to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, 3for He is a holyGod. He is 4a jealousGod; 5He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.
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"6If you forsake the LORD and serveforeigngods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has donegood to you."
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The peoplesaid to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."
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Joshuasaid to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that 7you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
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"Now therefore, putaway the foreigngodswhich are in your midst, and 8incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
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9The peoplesaid to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice."
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10So Joshuamade a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
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And Joshua11wrotethesewords in the book of the law of God; and he took a largestone and set it up thereunder the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
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Joshuasaid to all the people, "Behold, 12thisstone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heardall the words of the LORDwhich He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God."
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Then Joshuadismissed the people, each to his inheritance.