¹⁶The people responded, “It would be unthinkable for us to abandon the Lord to serve other gods. ¹⁷The Lord our God brought us and our ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. He did these spectacular signs right before our eyes. He guarded us wherever we went, especially as we passed through other nations. ¹⁸The Lord forced out all the people ahead of us, including the Amorites who lived in this land. We, too, will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”

¹⁹But Joshua answered the people, “Since the Lord is a holy God, you can’t possibly serve him. He is a God who does not tolerate rivals. He will not forgive your rebellious acts and sins. ²⁰If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although he has been so good to you.”

²¹The people answered Joshua, “No! We will ⸤only⸥ serve the Lord!”

²²Joshua said to the people, “You have testified that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

They answered, “Yes, we have!”

²³“Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Turn yourselves entirely over to the Lord God of Israel.”

²⁴The people replied to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

²⁵That day Joshua made an agreement for the people and set up laws and rules for them at Shechem. ²⁶Joshua wrote these things in the Book of God’s Teachings. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree at the Lord’s holy place. ²⁷Joshua told all the people, “This stone will stand as a witness for us. It has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us. It will stand as a witness for you. You cannot deceive your God.”

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