Joshua 9:21-26
New American Standard Bible
22Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, 'Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land?
23Now therefore, you are cursed, and you will never cease to be slaves, both gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the house of my God.'
24So they answered Joshua and said, 'Since your servants were fully informed that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you, we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing.
25And now behold, we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight to do.'
26This he did to them, and saved them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.
King James Version
22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
Christian Standard Bible
22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?
23Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."
24The Gibeonites answered him, "It was clearly communicated to your servants that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you. We greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.
25Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is right."
26This is what Joshua did to them: he rescued them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
New Living Translation
22Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, 'Why did you lie to us? Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here among us?
23May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.'
24They replied, 'We did it because we — your servants — were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this.
25Now we are at your mercy — do to us whatever you think is right.'
English Standard Version
22Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, "Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell among us?
23Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."
24They answered Joshua, "Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you — so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing.
25And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it."
26So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them.
New International Version
22Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us?
23You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."
24They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.
25We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you."
New King James Version
22Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us?
23Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
24So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”
26So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.
