Joshua 1:1–9

ENCOURAGEMENT OF JOSHUA

1After the death of Moses^a the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun,^b Moses’s assistant: ²“Moses my servant is dead.^c Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan^d to the land I am giving the Israelites. ³I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads,^e just as I promised Moses. ⁴Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon^f to the great river, the Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites^g—and west to the Mediterranean Sea.^{h 5}No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.ⁱ I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you.^j

⁶“Be strong and courageous,^k for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance.^{l 7}Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you.^m Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. ⁸This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth;ⁿ you are to meditate on^A it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.^{o 9}Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?^p Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”