1 Kwathi emva kokufa kukaMose inceku kaJehova, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, isikhonzi sikaMose, wathi:
2 “UMose inceku yami ufile; ngalokho suka uwele leli Jordani, wena nalaba bantu bonke, niye ezweni engibanika lona abantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
3 Zonke izindawo ayakunyathela kuzo amathe onyawo lwenu ngininikile zona, njengalokho ngakhuluma kuMose.
4 Kusukela ehlane nakuleli Lebanoni kuze kufike emfuleni omkhulu, umfula u-Ewufrathe, lonke izwe lamaHeti, nakuze kube seLwandle Olukhulu ngasentshonalanga, kuyakuba ngumkhawulo wenu.
5 Akuyikubakho muntu ongema phambi kwakho zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakho; njengalokho nganginaye uMose, kanjalo ngiyakuba nawe; angiyikukuyeka, angiyikukushiya.
6 “Qina, ume isibindi, ngokuba uyakwenza ukuba laba bantu badle izwe engalifungela oyise ukubanika lona.
7 Qina kuphela, ume isibindi kakhulu, uqaphele ukwenza ngokomthetho wonke akuyala ngawo uMose inceku yami, ungaphambuki kuwo ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo ukuba ube nempumelelo nomaphi lapho uya khona.
8 Le ncwadi yomthetho mayingasuki emlonyeni wakho, kepha wozindla ngayo imini nobusuku ukuba uqaphele ukwenza njengakho konke okulotshwe kuyo, ngokuba lapho uyakuhlahlamelisa indlela yakho, uphumelele kahle.
9 Angikuyalile na? Qina, ume isibindi, ungesabi, ungabi naluvalo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona.”
10 UJoshuwa wayeseyala izinduna zabantu, ethi:
11 “Dabulani phakathi kwekamu,* niyale abantu, nithi: ‘Zilungiseleni umphako, ngokuba emva kwezinsuku ezintathu niyakuwela leli Jordani, ningene ukuba nilidle izwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninika lona ukuba nilizuze.’ ”
12 UJoshuwa wakhuluma kwabakwaRubeni, nabakwaGadi, nakuyo inxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, wathi:
13 “Khumbulani izwi aniyala ngalo uMose inceku kaJehova, ethi: ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyakuniphumuza, aninike leli zwe.’
14 Omkenu, nabantwana benu, nezinkomo zenu bayakuhlala ezweni uMose aninika lona ngaphesheya kweJordani; kepha nina niyakuwela phambi kwabafowenu nihlomile, nonke nina maqhawe anamandla, nibasize,
15 uJehova aze aphumuze abafowenu njengani, nabo badle izwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu abanika lona, andukuba nibuyele ezweni lefa lenu aninika lona uMose inceku kaJehova ngaphesheya kweJordani ngasempumalanga, nilidle.”
16 Bamphendula uJoshuwa, bathi: “Konke osiyale ngakho siyakukwenza; nomaphi lapho usithuma khona, siyakuya khona.
17 Njengalokho samlalela kukho konke, kanjalo siyakulalela wena; kepha, kuphela uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, makabe kuwe njengalokho wayenoMose.
18 Yilowo nalowo oyakuhlubuka ezwini lakho, angalaleli amazwi akho kukho konke omyala ngakho, uyakubulawa; qina kuphela, ume isibindi.”