Joshua 4

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 After the entire nation had crossed the Jordan,	1 And when they had crossed over, the Lord said to Joshua:
2 the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose twelve men from the people, one from each tribe,	2 “Choose twelve men, one from each tribe,
3 and instruct them to take up twelve stones from this spot in the bed of the Jordan where the priests have been standing motionless. Carry them over with you, and place them where you are to stay tonight."	3 and instruct them so that they may take from the midst of the channel of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood still, twelve very hard stones, which you shall station in the place of the camp, where you will pitch your tents this night.”
4 Summoning the twelve men whom he had selected from among the Israelites, one from each tribe,	4 And Joshua called twelve men, whom he had chosen from the sons of Israel, one from each tribe,
5 Joshua said to them: "Go to the bed of the Jordan in front of the ark of the LORD, your God; lift to your shoulders one stone apiece, so that they will equal in number the tribes of the Israelites.	5 and he said to them: “Go before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and let each one carry from there one stone on your shoulders, according to the number of the sons of Israel,
6 In the future, these are to be a sign among you. When your children ask you what these stones mean to you,	6 so that it may be a sign among you. And when your sons will ask you, tomorrow, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
7 you shall answer them, 'The waters of the Jordan ceased to flow before the ark of the covenant of the LORD when it crossed the Jordan.' Thus these stones are to serve as a perpetual memorial to the Israelites."	7 you shall respond to them: ‘The waters of the Jordan failed before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when the ark crossed over it. For this reason, these stones were placed as a monument for the sons of Israel, even forever.’ ”
8 The twelve Israelites did as Joshua had commanded: they took up as many stones from the bed of the Jordan as there were tribes of the Israelites, and carried them along to the camp site, where they placed them, according to the LORD'S direction.	8 Therefore, the sons of Israel did as Joshua instructed them, carrying twelve stones from the midst of the channel of the Jordan, just as the Lord had ordered him, according to the number of the sons of Israel, as far as the place where they made camp, and there they stationed them.
9 Joshua also had twelve stones set up in the bed of the Jordan on the spot where the priests stood who were carrying the ark of the covenant. They are there to this day.	9 Similarly, Joshua positioned another twelve stones in the middle of the channel of the Jordan, where the priests stood who were carrying the ark of the covenant; and they are there, even to the present day.
10 The priests carrying the ark remained in the bed of the Jordan until everything had been done that the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell the people. The people crossed over quickly,	10 Now the priests who were carrying the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was accomplished which the Lord had instructed Joshua to speak to the people and which Moses had said to him. And the people hurried, and they passed over.
11 and when all had reached the other side, the ark of the LORD, borne by the priests, also crossed to its place in front of them.	11 And when they had all crossed, the ark of the Lord also crossed, and the priests advanced before the people.
12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, armed, marched in the vanguard of the Israelites, as Moses had ordered.	12 Likewise, the sons of Reuben, and of Gad, and of the one half tribe of Manasseh advanced with weapons before the sons of Israel, just as Moses had instructed them.
13 About forty thousand troops equipped for battle passed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho.	13 And forty thousand fighters, by companies and divisions, advanced through the plains and fields of the city of Jericho.
14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and thenceforth during his whole life they respected him as they had respected Moses.	14 In that day, the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, so that they would fear him, just as they had feared Moses while he lived.
15 Then the LORD said to Joshua,	15 And he said to him,
16 "Command the priests carrying the ark of the commandments to come up from the Jordan."	16 “Command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant to ascend from the Jordan.”
17 Joshua did so,	17 And he commanded them, saying, “Ascend from the Jordan.”
18 and when the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come up from the bed of the Jordan, as the soles of their feet regained the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course and as before overflowed all its banks.	18 And when those who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord had ascended, and they began to step on dry soil, the waters returned to their channel, and they flowed as they usually did before.
19 The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and camped in Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho.	19 Now the people ascended from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal, opposite the eastern portion of the city of Jericho.
20 At Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones which had been taken from the Jordan,	20 Likewise, the twelve stones that they had taken up from the channel of the Jordan, Joshua stationed at Gilgal.
21 saying to the Israelites, "In the future, when the children among you ask their fathers what these stones mean,	21 And he said to the sons of Israel: “When your sons will question their fathers, tomorrow, and they will say to them, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
22 you shall inform them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan here on dry ground.'	22 you shall teach them, and you shall say: ‘Israel passed over this Jordan, through the dry channel.’
23 For the LORD, your God, dried up the waters of the Jordan in front of you until you crossed over, just as the LORD, your God, had done at the Red Sea, which he dried up in front of us until we crossed over;	23 For the Lord your God dried up its waters in your sight, until you crossed over,
24 in order that all the peoples of the earth may learn that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and that you may fear the LORD, your God, forever."	24 just as he had done before, at the Red Sea, which he dried up until we crossed over.
	25 So may all the peoples of the earth learn of the very powerful hand of the Lord. So may you also fear the Lord your God for all time.”