Joshua 9

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
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	1 Now When these things were heard of, all the kings beyond the Jordan, that dwelt in the mountains and in the plains, in the places near the sea, and on the coasts of the great sea, they also that dwell by Libanus, the Hethite and the Amorrhite, the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite,
2 formed a fighting al iance against Joshua and Israel.	2 Gathered themselves together, to fight against Josue and Israel with one mind, and one resolution.
3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated Jericho and Ai, for their part,	3 But they that dwelt in Gabaon, hearing all that Josue had done to Jericho and Hai:
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.	4 Cunningly devising took for themselves provisions, laying old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles rent and sewed up again,
5 They put on patched old sandals and worn-out clothes. The only bread they took with them to eat wasdried up and crumbling.	5 And very old shoes, which for a show of age were clouted with patches, and old garments upon them: the leaves also, which they carried for provisions by the way, were hard, and broken into pieces:
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.'	6 And they went to Josue, who then abode in the camp at Galgal, and said to him, and to all Israel with him: We are come from a far country, desiring to make peace with you. And the children of Israel answered them, and said:
7 The Israelites answered these Hivites, 'For all we know, you may live right among us. How then couldwe make a treaty with you?'	7 Perhaps you dwell in the land which falls to our lot; if so, we can make no league with you.
8 They said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' 'But who are you?' Joshua asked them, 'and where do youcome from?'	8 But they said to Josue: We are thy servants. Josue said to them: Who are you? and whence came you?
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,	9 They answered: From a very far country thy servants are come in the name of the Lord thy God. For we have heard the fame of his power, all the things that he did in Egypt.
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.	10 And to the two kings of the Amorrhites that were beyond the Jordan, Sehon king of Hesebon, and Og king of Basan, that was in Astaroth:
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."	11 And our ancients, and all the inhabitants of our country said to us: Take with you victuals for a long way, and go meet them, and say: We are your servants, make ye a league with us.
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.	12 Behold, these leaves we took hot, when we set out from our houses to come to you, now they are become dry, and broken in pieces, by being exceeding old.
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.'	13 These bottles of wine when we filled them were new, now they are rent and burst. These garments we have on, and the shoes we have on our feet, by reason of the very long journey are worn out, and almost consumed.
14 The leaders sampled some of the food they offered, but they did not ask Yahweh's orders.	14 They took therefore of their victuals, and consulted not the mouth of the Lord.
15 Joshua made peace with them, and struck a treaty with them guaranteeing their lives, and the leadersof the community ratified it by oath.	15 And Josue made peace with them, and entering into a league promised that they should not be slain: the princes also of the multitude swore to 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.	16 Now three days after the league was made, they heard that they dwelt nigh, and they should be among them.
17 The Israelites set out from camp, arriving in their towns three days later. Their towns were Gibeon,Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-Jearim.	17 And the children of Israel removed the camp, and came into their cities on the third day, the names of which are Gabaon, and Caphira, and Beroth, and Cariathiarim.
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.	18 And they slew them not, because the princes of the multitude had sworn in the name of the Lord the God of Israel. Then all the common people murmured against the princes.
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.	19 And they answered them: We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord the God of Israel, and therefore we may not touch 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.'	20 But this we mill do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn.
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.	21 But so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking these things,
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?	22 Josue called the Gabaonites and said to them: Why would you impose upon us, saying: We dwell far off from you, whereas you are in the midst of us?
23 From now on, you are accursed and wil for ever be serfs, as wood-cutters and water-carriers in thehouse of my God.'	23 Therefore you shall be under a curse, and your race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water unto the house of my God.
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.	24 They answered: It was told us thy servants, that the Lord thy God had promised his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants thereof. Therefore we feared exceedingly and provided for our lives. compelled by the dread we had of you and we took this counsel.
25 Now, as you see, we are at your mercy; do to us whatever you think good and right.'	25 And now we are in thy hand: deal with us as it seemeth good and right unto thee.
26 What he did with them was this: he saved them from the hand of the Israelites, who did not kil them.	26 So Josue did as he had said, and delivered them from the hand of the children of Israel, that they should not be slain.
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.	27 And he gave orders in that day that they should be in the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the Lord hath chosen.