1 Herran palvelijan Mooseksen kuoltua sanoi Herra Joosualle, Nuunin pojalle, Mooseksen palvelijalle, näin:

3 Jokaisen paikan, johon te jalkanne astutte, minä annan teille, niinkuin olen Moosekselle puhunut.

4 Maa erämaasta ja tuolta Libanonista aina suureen virtaan, Eufrat-virtaan, saakka-koko heettiläisten maa-ja aina Suureen mereen asti, auringonlaskuun päin, on oleva teidän aluettanne.

5 Ei kukaan kestä sinun edessäsi kaikkena elinaikanasi. Niinkuin minä olin Mooseksen kanssa, niin minä olen sinunkin kanssasi; minä en jätä sinua enkä hylkää sinua.

6 Ole luja ja rohkea; sillä sinä jaat tälle kansalle perinnöksi sen maan, jonka minä heidän isillensä vannotulla valalla olen luvannut antaa heille.

7 Ole vain luja ja aivan rohkea ja noudata tarkoin kaikessa sitä lakia, jonka minun palvelijani Mooses on sinulle antanut; älä poikkea siitä oikealle äläkä vasemmalle, että menestyisit, missä ikinä kuljetkin.

8 Älköön tämä lain kirja sinun suustasi poistuko, vaan tutkiskele sitä päivät ja yöt, että tarkoin noudattaisit kaikkea, mitä siihen on kirjoitettu, sillä silloin sinä onnistut teilläsi ja silloin sinä menestyt.

10 Silloin Joosua käski kansan päällysmiehiä sanoen:

12 Mutta ruubenilaisille, gaadilaisille ja toiselle puolelle Manassen sukukuntaa Joosua sanoi näin:

14 Vaimonne, lapsenne ja karjanne jääkööt siihen maahan, jonka Mooses antoi teille tältä puolelta Jordanin. Mutta teidän itsenne, kaikkien sotaurhojen, on taisteluun valmiina lähdettävä veljienne etunenässä ja autettava heitä,

17 Niinkuin me olemme kaikessa totelleet Moosesta, niin me tottelemme sinuakin. Olkoon vain Herra, sinun Jumalasi, sinun kanssasi, niinkuin hän oli Mooseksen kanssa.

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.

6 "Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. 9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go."

10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which Yahweh your God gives you to possess.’"

12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them 15 until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’"

16 They answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."