Joshua 9

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And when these things were heard, all the kings across the Jordan, who lived among the mountains and plains, along the coastline and shores of the great sea, also those who were living near Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,	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 gathered themselves together, so that they might fight against Joshua and Israel, with one mind and with the same resolve.	2 formed a fighting al iance against Joshua and Israel.
3 But those who were living in Gibeon, hearing all that Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,	3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated Jericho and Ai, for their part,
4 planning cleverly, took for themselves provisions, placing old sacks upon their donkeys, and wineskins that had torn and been sewed up,	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 and having very old shoes, which had been sewn with patches indicating their age, and being clothed in old garments, having also loaves, which they carried as food for the journey, which were hard and broken into pieces.	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 And they traveled to Joshua, who at that time was staying in the camp at Gilgal. And they said to him, and to all of Israel with him, “We have come from a far away land, desiring to make peace with you.” And the sons of Israel responded to them, and said,	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 “Perhaps instead, you live in the land which ought to be ours by lot, and we would be unable to form a pact 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 said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them: “But who are you? And where are you from?”	8 They said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' 'But who are you?' Joshua asked them, 'and where do youcome from?'
9 They responded: “Your servants have arrived, from a very far away land, in the name of the Lord, your God. For we have heard about the fame of his power, all the things that he has done 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 to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan: Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, who was at 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 And our elders, and all the inhabitants of our land, have said to us: ‘Take in hand provisions for the very long journey, and meet with them, and say: We are your servants; form a pact 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 Lo, the loaves were taken up warm when we departed from our houses, so that we might come to you. Now they have become dry and broken, due to age.	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 These wineskins were new when we filled them, now they are torn and broken. The garments we are wearing, and the shoes we have on our feet, due to the great length of the distance, have become worn and are nearly consumed.”	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 And so they accepted this, because of their provisions, and they did not consult the mouth of the Lord.	14 The leaders sampled some of the food they offered, but they did not ask Yahweh's orders.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and entering into a pact, he promised that they would not be put to death. The leaders of the multitude also swore to them.	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 Then, three days after the pact was formed, they heard that they lived in the vicinity, and that they would soon be among them.	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 And so the sons of Israel moved the camp, and they arrived at their cities on the third day, those which are called: Gibeon, and Chephirah, and 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 And they did not strike them, because the leaders of the multitude had sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And so all of the common people murmured against the leaders.	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 And they responded to them: “We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, and for that reason, we are not able to touch 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 But we shall do this to them: Certainly, let them be preserved so that they may live, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, since we would have sworn falsely.	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 But though they live, let them serve the entire multitude by cutting wood and carrying water.” And while they were discussing these things,	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 called the Gibeonites, and he said to them: “Why would you be willing to deceive us by fraud, saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when you are in our 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 Therefore, you shall be under a curse, and your stock shall not cease to be cutters of wood and carriers of water, into 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 And they responded: “It was reported to us, your servants, that the Lord your God had promised his servant Moses that he would give you the entire land, and that he would destroy all its inhabitants. Therefore, we were very afraid, and we made a provision for our lives, compelled by the dread of you, and we undertook this counsel.	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 we are in your hand. Act toward us as it seems good and right to you.”	25 Now, as you see, we are at your mercy; do to us whatever you think good and right.'
26 Therefore, Joshua did just as he had said, and he freed them from the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they would not be killed.	26 What he did with them was this: he saved them from the hand of the Israelites, who did not kil them.
27 And he decreed on that day, that they would be in the ministry of all the people and of the altar of the Lord, cutting wood and carrying water, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.	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.