1 ¶ And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the mountains and in the valleys and in all the coast of the great sea over against Lebanon, heard these things, the Hittites and the Amorites the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites

And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it,

2 g athered themselves together with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.

that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.

3 ¶ But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 t hey worked with prudence and went and made as if they had been ambassadors and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old and rent and bound up,

they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,

5 a nd old patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.

6 T hus they came unto Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said unto him and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country; now, therefore, make ye a covenant with us.

And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”

7 A nd the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us, and how shall we make a covenant with you?

Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”

8 A nd they said unto Joshua, We are thy slaves. And Joshua said unto them, Who are you and where do you come from?

But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”

9 A nd they said unto him, From very far lands thy slaves are come because of the name of the LORD thy God, for we have heard the fame of him and all that he did in Egypt

So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,

10 a nd all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side of the Jordan, and to Sihon, king of Heshbon, and to Og, king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

11 T herefore, our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision with you for the journey and go to meet them and say unto them, We are your slaves; therefore, now make ye a covenant with us.

Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”’

12 T his our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to come unto you, but now, behold, it is dry and mouldy.

This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.

13 T hese bottles of wine, we also filled new, and, behold, they are rent, and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”

14 A nd the men of Israel took of their provision and did not ask counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.

15 ¶ And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; also the princes of the congregation swore unto them.

So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

16 A t the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard how they were their neighbours and that they dwelt among them.

And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.

17 A nd the sons of Israel journeyed and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kirjathjearim.

Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.

18 A nd the sons of Israel did not smite them because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.

19 B ut all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel; therefore, now we may not touch them.

Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.

20 T his we will do to them; we will let them live lest wrath come upon us because of the oath which we swore unto them.

This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”

21 A nd the princes said unto them, Let them live but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had said unto them.

And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”

22 ¶ And Joshua called for them, and spoke unto them saying, Why have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you, when ye dwell among us?

Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us?

23 N ow, therefore, ye are cursed, and ye shall always be slaves and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 A nd they answered Joshua and said, Because it was certainly told thy slaves how the LORD thy God commanded his slave Moses that he was to give you the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore, we feared greatly of our lives because of you and have done this thing.

So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

25 A nd now, behold, we are in thy hand; as it seems good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”

26 A nd so did he unto them; he delivered them out of the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they did not slay them.

So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.

27 A nd Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which he should choose; which they are even unto this day.

And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.