1 W hen you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

“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 I t shall be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people,

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

3 a nd shall tell them, “Hear, Israel, you draw near today to battle against your enemies. Don’t let your heart faint! Don’t be afraid, nor tremble, neither be scared 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 Yahweh 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 T he officers shall speak to the people, saying, “What man is there who has built a new house, and has not dedicated it? Let him go and 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 W hat man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit.

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 W hat man is there who has pledged to be married a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and 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 T he officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, “What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt as his heart.”

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 I t shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall appoint captains of armies 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 I t shall be, if it makes you answer of peace, and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people who are found therein shall become forced laborers to you, and 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 I f it will make no peace with you, but will make war 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 W hen Yahweh your God delivers it into your hand, you shall strike every male of it 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 livestock, and all that is in the city, even all its plunder, you shall take for plunder for yourself. You may use the plunder of your enemies, which Yahweh 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 T hus you shall do to all the cities which are very far off from you, which are not of 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 of the cities of these peoples, that Yahweh 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 destroy them: the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Yahweh 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 t hat they not teach you to follow all their abominations, which they have done to their gods; so would you sin against Yahweh 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 shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; for you may eat of them. You shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field 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 that you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down. You shall build bulwarks 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.