Joshua 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 When the news reached the kings west of the Jordan, in the mountain regions and in the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon: Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites,	1 Hearing these things, al the kings on this side of the Jordan, in the highlands and in the lowlands, allalong the coast of the Great Sea towards the Lebanon, Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites andJebusites, with one consent
2 they all formed an alliance to launch a common attack against Joshua and Israel.	2 formed a fighting al iance against Joshua and Israel.
3 On learning what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, the inhabitants of Gibeon	3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated Jericho and Ai, for their part,
4 put into effect a device of their own. They chose provisions for a journey, making use of old sacks for their asses, and old wineskins, torn and mended.	4 they had recourse to a ruse. They provided themselves with supplies, and loaded their donkeys with oldsacks and with old wineskins which had burst and been sewn up again.
5 They wore old, patched sandals and shabby garments; and all the bread they took was dry and crumbly.	5 They put on patched old sandals and worn-out clothes. The only bread they took with them to eat wasdried up and crumbling.
6 Thus they journeyed to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, where they said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land to propose that you make an alliance with us."	6 They came to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, and to him and the men of Israel they said, 'We come froma distant country, so make a treaty with us.'
7 But the men of Israel replied to the Hivites, "You may be living in land that is ours. How, then, can we make an alliance with you?"	7 The Israelites answered these Hivites, 'For all we know, you may live right among us. How then couldwe make a treaty with you?'
8 But they answered Joshua, "We are your servants." Then Joshua asked them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"	8 They said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' 'But who are you?' Joshua asked them, 'and where do youcome from?'
9 They answered him, "Your servants have come from a far-off land, because of the fame of the LORD, your God. For we have heard reports of all that he did in Egypt	9 They said, 'Your servants have come from a country very far away, because of the fame of Yahwehyour God; for we have heard of him and of al that he did in Egypt,
10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan, Sihon, king of Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.	10 and of al that he did to the two Amorite kings who used to live on the other side of the Jordan: Sihonking of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who used to live at Ashtaroth.
11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take along provisions for the journey and go to meet them. Say to them: We are your servants; we propose that you make an alliance with us.'	11 Because of which, our elders and al the people of our country said to us, "Take provisions with you forthe journey; go and meet them and say to them: We are your servants; so make a treaty with us."
12 This bread of ours was still warm when we brought it from home as provisions the day we left to come to you, but now it is dry and crumbled.	12 Here is our bread; it was warm when we took it from home to provide for our journey the day we setout to come to you, and now, you can see, it is dried up and crumbling.
13 Here are our wineskins, which were new when we filled them, but now they are torn. Look at our garments and sandals, which are worn out from the very long journey."	13 These wineskins were new when we filled them; you can see, they have burst; and these clothes andsandals of ours are worn out from travelling such a long way.'
14 Then the Israelite princes partook of their provisions, without seeking the advice of the LORD.	14 The leaders sampled some of the food they offered, but they did not ask Yahweh's orders.
15 So Joshua made an alliance with them and entered into an agreement to spare them, which the princes of the community sealed with an oath.	15 Joshua made peace with them, and struck a treaty with them guaranteeing their lives, and the leadersof the community ratified it by oath.
16 Three days after the agreement was entered into, the Israelites learned that these people were from nearby, and would be living in Israel.	16 Now it so happened that three days after the treaty had been made, it became known that they were aneighbouring people, living in Israel's region.
17 The third day on the road, the Israelites came to their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim,	17 The Israelites set out from camp, arriving in their towns three days later. Their towns were Gibeon,Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-Jearim.
18 but did not attack them, because the princes of the community had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. When the entire community grumbled against the princes,	18 The Israelites did not attack them, since the leaders of the community had sworn to them by Yahweh,God of Israel, but the whole community muttered against the leaders.
19 these all remonstrated with the people, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and so we cannot harm them.	19 The leaders, however, al said to the whole community, 'Since we have sworn an oath to them byYahweh, God of Israel, we cannot touch them now.
20 Let us therefore spare their lives and so deal with them that we shall not be punished for the oath we have sworn to them."	20 This is what we shal do with them: let them live, rather than bring retribution down on ourselves onaccount of the oath which we have sworn to them.'
21 Thus the princes recommended that they be let live, as hewers of wood and drawers of water for the entire community; and the community did as the princes advised them.	21 And the leaders went on, 'Let them live, but let them be wood-cutters and water-carriers for the wholecommunity.' Thus spoke the leaders.
22 Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you lie to us and say that you lived at a great distance from us, when you will be living in our very midst?	22 Joshua sent for the Gibeonites and asked them, 'Why did you deceive us by saying, "We live very faraway," when in fact you live right among us?
23 For this are you accursed: every one of you shall always be a slave (hewers of wood and drawers of water) for the house of my God."	23 From now on, you are accursed and wil for ever be serfs, as wood-cutters and water-carriers in thehouse of my God.'
24 They answered Joshua, "Your servants were fully informed of how the LORD, your God, commanded his servant Moses that you be given the entire land and that all its inhabitants be destroyed before you. Since, therefore, at your advance, we were in great fear for our lives, we acted as we did.	24 Their answer to Joshua was, 'We did it because your servants had been rightly told that Yahweh yourGod had ordered his servant Moses to give you the whole of this country and destroy al its inhabitants beforeyou; also because, as you advanced on us, we feared very greatly for our lives. That was why we did this.
25 And now that we are in your power, do with us what you think fit and right."	25 Now, as you see, we are at your mercy; do to us whatever you think good and right.'
26 Joshua did what he had decided: while he saved them from being killed by the Israelites,	26 What he did with them was this: he saved them from the hand of the Israelites, who did not kil them.
27 at the same time he made them, as they still are, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the community and for the altar of the LORD, in the place of the LORD'S choice.	27 But that very day Joshua made them wood-cutters and water-carriers for the community and for thealtar of Yahweh, at the place which he would eventual y choose; and so they are today.