The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
20 When you leave God and take up the worship of foreign gods, he'll turn right around and come down on you hard. He'll put an end to you - and after all the good he has done for you!"
20
If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”
21 But the people told Joshua: "No! No! We worship God!"
21
But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.”
22 And so Joshua addressed the people: "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen God for yourselves - to worship him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
22
Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
23 Joshua said, "Now get rid of all the foreign gods you have with you. Say an unqualified Yes to God, the God of Israel."
23
“Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
24 The people answered Joshua, "We will worship God. What he says, we'll do."
24
And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.”
25 Joshua completed a Covenant for the people that day there at Shechem. He made it official, spelling it out in detail.
25
On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.
26 Joshua wrote out all the directions and regulations into the Book of The Revelation of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak that was in the holy place of God.
26
And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.
27 Joshua spoke to all the people: "This stone is a witness against us. It has heard every word that God has said to us. It is a standing witness against you lest you cheat on your God."
27
“See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness 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 to your God.”
28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own place of inheritance.
28
Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.
29 After all this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of God, died. He was 110 years old.
29
After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
30 They buried him in the land of his inheritance at Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
30
And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.