over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho. And the
men of that city fought against you, the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite,
and the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Gergesite, and the Hevite,
and the Jebusite: and I delivered them into your hands.

24:12. And I sent before you and I drove them out from their places, the
two kings of the Amorrhites, not with thy sword nor with thy bow,

24:13. And I gave you a land, in which you had not laboured, and cities
to dwell in which you built not, vineyards and oliveyards, which you
planted not.

24:14. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and
most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in
Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

24:15. But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your
choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather
serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the
gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my
house we will serve thee Lord,

24:16. And the people answered, and said, God forbid we should leave the
Lord, and serve strange gods.

24:17. The Lord our God he brought us and our fathers out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage: and did very great signs in our
sight, and preserved us in all the way by which we journeyed, and among
all the people through whom we passed.

24:18. And he hath cast out all the nations, the Amorrhite the
inhabitant of the land into which we are come. Therefore we will serve
the Lord, for he is our God.

24:19. And Josue said to the people: You will not be able to serve the
Lord: for he is a holy God, and mighty and jealous, and will not forgive
your wickedness and sins.

You will not be able to serve the Lord, etc... This was not said by way
of discouraging them; but rather to make them more earnest and resolute,
by setting before them the greatness of the undertaking, and the courage
and constancy necessary to go through with it.

24:20. If you leave the Lord, and serve strange gods, he will turn, and
will afflict you, and will destroy you after all the good he hath done
you.

24:21. And the people said to Josue: No, it shall not be so as thou
sayest, but we will serve the Lord.

24:22. And Josue said to the people, You are witnesses, that you
yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him. And they answered: We
are witnesses.

24:23. Now therefore, said he, put