God Commissions Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the aservant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ bassistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 cEvery place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 dFrom the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 eNo man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just fas I was with Moses, so gI will be with you. hI will not leave you or forsake you. 6 iBe strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and jvery courageous, being careful to do according to all the law kthat Moses my servant commanded you. lDo not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success1 wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but myou shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? nBe strong and courageous. oDo not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua Assumes Command
10 And Joshua commanded the pofficers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for qwithin three days ryou are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”
12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that sMoses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 tuntil the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. uThen you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God vbe with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. wOnly be strong and courageous.”
Deliver Me, O Lord
A Song of mAscents.
1 In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O Lord,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you,
nand what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
with glowing qcoals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in rMeshech,
that I dwell among sthe tents of tKedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7 uI am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!
My Help Comes from the Lord
A Song of mAscents.
1 I vlift up my eyes to wthe hills.
From where does my help come?
2 xMy help comes from the Lord,
who ymade heaven and earth.
3 He will not zlet your foot be moved;
he who akeeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your bshade on your cright hand.
6 dThe sun shall not estrike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will akeep you from all evil;
he will akeep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your fgoing out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Let Us Go to the House of the Lord
A Song of mAscents. Of David.
1 I was glad when they said to me,
g“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem—hbuilt as a city
that is ibound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes jgo up,
the tribes of the Lord,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There lthrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 mPray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your nwalls
and security within your ntowers!”
8 For my brothers and companions’ sake
I will say, o“Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will pseek your good.
