1 J oshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as scouts, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. And they went and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there.

Joshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men out of Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, including Jericho.” They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and slept there.

2 I t was told the king of Jericho, Behold, there came men in here tonight of the Israelites to search out the country.

The king of Jericho was told, “Behold, men of the children of Israel came in here tonight to spy out the land.”

3 A nd the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out the land.

Jericho’s king sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to spy out all the land.”

4 B ut the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know from where they had come.

The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from.

5 A nd at gate closing time, after dark, the men went out. Where they went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.

About the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, the men went out. Where the men went, I don’t know. Pursue them quickly. You may catch up with them.”

6 B ut she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order there.

But she had brought them up to the roof, and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.

7 S o the men pursued them to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone, the city’s gate was shut.

The men pursued them along the way to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.

8 B efore the two men had lain down, Rahab came up to them on the roof,

Before they had lain down, she came up to them on the roof.

9 A nd she said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

She said to the men, “I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.

10 F or we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

11 W hen we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain any more in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

As soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted, and there wasn’t any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.

12 N ow then, I pray you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a sure sign,

Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a true sign;

13 A nd save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all they have, and deliver us from death.

and that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.”

14 A nd the men said to her, Our lives for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.

The men said to her, “Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

15 T hen she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the wall so that she dwelt in the wall.

Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall.

16 A nd she said to them, Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; hide yourselves there three days until the pursuers have returned; and afterward you may go your way.

She said to them, “Go to the mountain, lest the pursuers find you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward, you may go your way.”

17 T he men said to her, We will be blameless of this oath you have made us swear.

The men said to her, “We will be guiltless of this your oath which you’ve made us to swear.

18 B ehold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall bring your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household into your house.

Behold, when we come into the land, tie this line of scarlet thread in the window which you used to let us down. Gather to yourself into the house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household.

19 A nd if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless; but if a hand is laid upon anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.

It shall be that whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his head, and we will be guiltless. Whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand is on him.

20 B ut if you tell this business of ours, we shall be guiltless of your oath which you made us swear.

But if you talk about this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you’ve made us to swear.”

21 A nd she said, According to your words, so it is. Then she sent them away and they departed; and she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

She said, “Let it be as you have said.” She sent them away, and they departed. Then she tied the scarlet line in the window.

22 T hey left and went to the mountain and stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned, who had searched all along the way without finding them.

They went, and came to the mountain, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but didn’t find them.

23 S o the two men descended from the mountain, passed over, and came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.

Then the two men returned, descended from the mountain, crossed the river, and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They told him all that had happened to them.

24 T hey said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the country are faint because of us.

They said to Joshua, “Truly Yahweh has delivered all the land into our hands. Moreover, all the inhabitants of the land melt away before us.”