Deuteronomy 20 ~ Deuteronomy 20

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1 W hen thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

When 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.

2 A nd it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

And when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the men,

3 a nd shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them;

And 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.

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

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

5 A nd 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 to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

And 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.

6 A nd what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof.

And 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.

7 A nd 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.

And 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.

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

And 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.

9 A nd it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people.

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

10 W hen thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.

11 A nd it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee.

And 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.

12 A nd if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

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

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

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

14 b ut the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee.

But 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.

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

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

16 B ut of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;

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

17 b ut thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;

But 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,

18 t hat they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so would ye sin against Jehovah your God.

So 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.

19 W hen thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of thee?

When 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?

20 O nly the trees of which thou knowest that they are not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.

Only 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.