1 W hen you go forth to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.

When thou goest out to war against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, a people more numerous than thou, thou shalt not fear them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

2 A nd when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the men,

And it shall be, when ye approach unto the battle, that the priest shall draw near and speak unto the people,

3 A nd shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Let not your hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them.

and shall say unto them, Hear, Israel, ye are approaching this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be afraid of them;

4 F or the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you.

for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

5 A nd the officers shall speak to the people, saying, What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.

And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

6 A nd what man has planted a vineyard and has not used the fruit of it? Let him also return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man use the fruit of it.

And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not eaten of it? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.

7 A nd what man has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.

And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.

8 A nd the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, What man is fearful and fainthearted? Let him return to his house, lest his brethren’s hearts faint as does his own.

And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and shall say, What man is there that is timid and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart melt as well as his heart.

9 A nd when the officers finish speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders at the head of the people.

And it shall be, when the officers have ended speaking unto the people, that they shall place captains of the hosts at the head of the people.

10 W hen you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.

When thou approachest unto a city to fight against it, thou shalt proclaim peace unto it.

11 A nd if that city makes an answer of peace to you and opens to you, then all the people found in it shall be tributary to you and they shall serve you.

And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then all the people that are found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

12 B ut if it refuses to make peace with you and fights against you, then you shall besiege it.

And if it will not make peace with thee, but will make war with thee, then thou shalt besiege it;

13 A nd when the Lord your God has given it into your hands, you shall smite every male there with the edge of the sword.

and when Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

14 B ut the women, the little ones, the beasts, and all that is in the city, all the spoil in it, you shall take for yourselves; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the Lord your God has given you.

only the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that shall be in the city, all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take as booty for thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee

15 S o shall you treat all the cities that are very far off from you, that do not belong to the cities of these nations.

Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities that are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

16 B ut in the cities of these people which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes.

But of the cities of these peoples which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth,

17 B ut you shall utterly exterminate them, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded you,

but shalt utterly devote them to destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;

18 S o that they may not teach you all the abominable practices they have carried on for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the Lord your God.

that they teach you not to do according to all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods, so that ye sin against Jehovah your God.

19 W hen you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by using an ax on them, for you can eat their fruit; you must not cut them down, for is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged by you?

When thou shalt besiege a city many days, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by lifting up an axe against them; for thou canst eat of them; and thou shalt not cut them down, for is the tree of the field a man that it should be besieged?

20 O nly the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siege works against the city that makes war with you until it falls.

Only the trees which thou knowest are not trees for meat, thou mayest destroy and cut them down, and build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.