21
but so live they, that they hew trees, and bear waters, into the uses of all the multitude (but let them live, so that they can cut wood, and carry water, for the use of all the multitude of Israel). And while they spake these things,
22
Joshua called (for the) Gibeonites, and said to them, Why would ye deceive us by fraud, (so) that ye said, We dwell full far from you, since ye be in the midst of us? (We live far away from you, when truly ye live right here in the midst of us?)
23
Therefore ye shall be under cursing, and none shall fail of your generation, hewing trees and bearing waters, into the house of my God. (And so because ye did this, ye shall all be cursed, and none of your generation shall ever be free, from cutting wood and carrying water, for the House of my God/for God's household, or his family.)
24
Which answered, It was told to us thy servants, that thy Lord God promised to Moses, his servant, that he should betake to you all the land, and should lose all the dwellers thereof; therefore we dreaded greatly, and purveyed to our lives, and we were compelled by your dread, and we took this counsel. (And they answered, It was told to us thy servants, that the Lord thy God promised to his servant Moses, that he would deliver all the land to you, and would destroy all of its inhabitants; and so we greatly feared, and purveyed for our own lives, and we were compelled by our fear of you, and so we did this thing.)
25
Now forsooth we be in thine hand; do thou to us that, that seemeth rightful and good to thee. (And so now we be in thy hands; do thou to us what seemeth right and good to thee.)
26
Therefore Joshua did, as he said, and delivered them from the hands of the sons of Israel, that they should not be slain. (And so Joshua did, as he said, and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they were not killed.)
27
And in that day Joshua deemed them to be into the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, and to hew trees, and to bear waters, till into present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen. (And on that day, Joshua decreed them to be in the service of all the people of Israel, and of the altar of the Lord, and to cut wood, and to carry water, yea, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.)