“If you go out to war against your enemies and you see a horse and a chariot, an army^a larger than you, you shall not be afraid because of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, the one who brought you from the land of Egypt. ²And then^b when you approach the battle, then the priest shall come near and speak to the troops. ³And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, Israel, you are near today^c to the battle against your enemies; do not lose heart;^d you shall not be afraid, and you shall not panic, and you shall not be terrified because of them,^e ⁴for Yahweh your God is going with you to fight for you against your enemies to help you.’ ⁵And the officials shall speak to the troops, saying,^f ‘Who is the man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to this house, so that he does not die in battle and another man^g dedicates it. ⁶And who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed it? Let him go and let him return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and another man^h enjoys it. ⁷And who is the man who got engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and let him return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and another manⁱ marries her.’ ⁸And the officials shall continue to speak to the troops, and they shall say, ‘What man^j is afraid and disheartened?^k Let him go, and let him return to his house, and let him not cause the heart of his brothers to melt^l like his.’ ⁹And when the officials have finished speaking^m to the army troops, then they shall appoint commanders of divisions at the head of the troops.

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Footnotes

aLiterally “a people”
bLiterally “And it will happen”
cLiterally “the day”
dLiterally “do not be faint/tender-hearted”
eLiterally “from their faces”
fLiterally “to say”
gLiterally “a man other”
hLiterally “a man other”
iLiterally “a man other”
jLiterally “Who is the man”
kLiterally “and soft/weak of the heart”
lThe verb has a causal meaning here
mLiterally “it will happen as to finish the officials to speak”