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 you go to battle against those who hate you and see more horses and war-wagons and soldiers than you have, do not be afraid of them. For the Lord your God, Who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you.

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

When you are coming near the battle, the religious leader will come near and speak to 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.

He will say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel. Today you are going into battle against those who hate you. Do not let your hearts become weak. Do not be afraid and shake in fear before 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 the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you. He will fight for you against those who hate you. And He will 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.

The leaders will speak to the people also, saying, ‘Is there anyone among you who has built a new house and has not given it to God? Let him go and return to his house or he might die in battle and another man will give it to God.

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.

Is there anyone who has planted grape vines and has not begun to eat their fruit? Let him go and return to his house or he might die in the battle and another man will begin to eat the fruit.

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.

Is there a man who is promised in marriage to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house or he might die in the battle and another man marry 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.

Then the leaders will say to the people, ‘Is there a man here who is afraid and is weak in heart? Let him go and return to his house so he will not make his brothers’ hearts afraid like his heart.’

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

When the leaders have finished speaking to the people, they will choose heads of the army to lead the people.

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

“When you come near a city to fight against it, ask the people of the city if they would rather have peace.

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.

If they agree to make peace with you and open their gates to you, all the people who are found there will be made to work for you and serve you.

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

But if they do not make peace with you and fight against you, you must take the city in battle.

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.

When the Lord your God gives the city to you, you must kill all the men in it with 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.

Take for yourselves what is left, the women, the children, all the animals, and all that is in the city. Use what is left of those who fought against you, which the Lord your God has given you.

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.

Do this to all the cities that are very far from you and are not of the cities of the nations that are near.

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 in the cities of these nations that the Lord your God is giving you for your own, do not leave alive anything that breathes.

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,

Destroy everything and everyone in them, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the Lord your God has told you.

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.

Then they will not teach you to do all the hated and sinful things they have done for their gods, and make you sin against the Lord 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 you stay around a city a long time, to make war against it and take it, do not destroy its trees with the ax. You may eat from them but do not cut them down. For are trees of the field men that they should be killed?

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.

You may destroy and cut down only the trees you know are not fruit trees. Then you may build walls with the trees to help you fight against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.