| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. | 1Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing the river. |
| 2So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; | 2After three days the leaders went through the camp |
| 3and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. | 3and commanded the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it. |
| 4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” | 4But stay about three thousand feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before." |
| 5And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” | 5Joshua told the people, "Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will perform miraculous deeds among you." |
| 6Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. | 6Joshua told the priests, "Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people." So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people. |
| 7And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. | 7The LORD told Joshua, "This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. |
| 8You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ” | 8Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, 'When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.'" |
| 9So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.” | 9Joshua told the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God!" |
| 10And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites: | 10Joshua continued, "This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. |
| 11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. | 11Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you. |
| 12Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe. | 12Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe. |
| 13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.” | 13When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up." |
| 14So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, | 14So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. |
| 15and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), | 15When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water--(the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time)-- |
| 16that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. | 16the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho. |
| 17Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. | 17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side. |
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