Spies View The Land

1 Then Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two men from Shittim secretly, with the purpose of searching out the land, and Jericho. So they went and came to the house of a loose woman of the town, named Rahab, where they took their rest for the night.

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from (A)Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of (B)a harlot whose name was Rahab, and (a)lodged there.

1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies(A) from the Acacia Grove,(a) saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab,(B) and stayed there.

1 After this, Nun's son Joshua sent two men from the Acacia groves as undercover scouts. He told them, "Go and look over the land. Pay special attention to Jericho." So they went out, came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there.

2 And it was said to the king of Jericho, See, some men have come here tonight from the children of Israel with the purpose of searching out the land.

2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.”

2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.”

2 Then the king of Jericho was told, "Look! Israeli men arrived tonight to scout out the land."

3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Send out the men who have come to you and are in your house; for they have come with the purpose of searching out all the land.

3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.”

3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.”

3 So the king of Jericho sent for Rahab and ordered her, "Bring out the men who came to visit you and lodged in your house, because they've come to scout out the entire land."

4 And the woman took the two men and put them in a secret place; then she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I had no idea where they came from;

4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

4 But the (C)woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.(C) So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.

4 Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, "The men really did come to me, but I didn't know from where they came.

5 And when it was the time for shutting the doors at dark, they went out; I have no idea where the men went: but if you go after them quickly, you will overtake them.

5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.”

5 At nightfall, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!”

5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gates, the men left. I don't know where the men went. Go after them quickly, and you might overtake them."

6 But she had taken them up to the roof, covering them with the stems of flax which she had put out in order there.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

6 But (D)she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.

6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them(D) among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof.

6 But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof.

7 So the men went after them on the road to Jordan as far as the river-crossing: and when they had gone out after them, the door into the town was shut.

7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.

7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the gate was shut.

7 So the men pursued them along the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as the search party had left, they shut the city gate after them.

The Promise To Rahab

8 And before the men went to rest, she came up to them on the roof,

8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

8 Now before they lay down, (b)she came up to them on the roof,

8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof

8 Before the scouts had lain down, she went up to them on the roof

9 And said to them, It is clear to me that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has come on us;

9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

9 and said to the men, “(E)I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the (F)terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have (c)melted away before you.

9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land(E) and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.(b)

9 "I'm really convinced that the LORD has given you the land," she said, "because we're overwhelmed with fear of you. All the other inhabitants of the land are demoralized at your presence,

10 For we have had news of how the Lord made the Red Sea dry before you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, on the other side of Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you gave up to the curse.

10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

10 (G)For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the (d)Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and (H)what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you (e)utterly destroyed.

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt,(F) and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed(G) across the Jordan.

10 because we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Reed Sea right in front of you as you were coming out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan River to Sihon and Og whom you completely destroyed.

11 And because of this news, our hearts became like water, and there was no more spirit in any of us because of you; for the Lord your God is God in heaven on high and here on earth.

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

11 When we heard it, (I)our hearts melted and no (f)courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the (J)Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed(c) because of you,(H) for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

11 When we heard these reports, we all became terrified and discouraged because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath.

12 So now, will you give me your oath by the Lord, that, because I have been kind to you, you will be kind to my father's house,

12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a (K)pledge of (g)truth,

12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you.(d) Give me a sure sign(e)

12 Now therefore, since I've treated you so kindly, please swear in the name of the LORD that you'll also be kind to my father's household by giving me this sure sign:

13 And that you will keep safe my father and mother and my brothers and sisters and all they have, so that death may not come on us?

13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

13 and (h)spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our (i)lives from death.”

13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

13 Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we won't be killed."

14 And the men said to her, Our life for yours if you keep our business secret; and when the Lord has given us the land, we will keep faith and be kind to you.

14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

14 So the men said to her, “Our (j)life (k)for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will (L)deal kindly and (l)faithfully with you.”

14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land.”

14 So the men told her, "Our life for yours even to death if you don't betray this mission of ours. Then when the LORD gives us this land, we'll treat you graciously and faithfully."

15 Then she let them down from the window by a cord, for the house where she was living was on the town wall.

15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city.

15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, since her house was built into the town wall where she lived.

16 And she said to them, Get away into the hill-country, or the men who have gone after you will overtake you; keep yourselves safe there for three days, till the searchers have come back, and then go on your way.

16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

16 She said to them, “(M)Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.”

16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide yourselves there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”

16 She told them, "Go out to the hill country, so the search party won't find you, and hide for three days. After that, you may go on your own way."

17 And the men said to her, We will only be responsible for this oath which you have made us take,

17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

17 The men said to her, “(N)We shall be free from this oath (m)to you which you have made us swear,

17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear,

17 The men replied, "We'll be free from our commitment to you to which you've obligated us

18 If, when we come into the land, you put this cord of bright red thread in the window from which you let us down; and get your father and mother and your brothers and all your family into the house;

18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

18 (n)unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and (O)gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household.

18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house.

18 when we invade the land, if you don't tie this rope made with red cords in the window through which you let us down, and if you don't gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all of the rest of your father's household into your house.

19 Then if anyone goes out of your house into the street, his blood will be on his head, we will not be responsible; but if any damage comes to anyone in the house, his blood will be on our heads.

19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, (P)his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.

19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his blood will be on his own head,(I) and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed,(f) his blood will be on our heads.

19 Everyone who leaves through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, but we'll be responsible for anyone who remains with you in the house if even so much as a hand is laid on him.

20 But if you say anything about our business here, then we will be free from the oath you have made us take.

20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.”

20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”

20 But if you report this incident, we'll be free from the oath to which you've made us swear."

21 And she said, Let it be as you say. Then she sent them away, and they went; and she put the bright red cord in the window.

21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

21 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

21 "Since you put it that way," she replied, "I agree." After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window.

22 And they went into the hill-country and were there three days, till the men who had gone after them had come back; and those who went after them were searching for them everywhere without coming across them.

22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them (o)all along the road, but had not found them.

22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them.

22 The scouts left for the hill country and remained there for three days until the search party returned. The search party searched the entire road, but was unable to find them.

23 Then the two men came down from the hill-country and went over and came back to Joshua, the son of Nun; and they gave him a complete account of what had taken place.

23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:

23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them.

23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them.

23 Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River, approached Nun's son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them.

24 And they said to Joshua, Truly, the Lord has given all the land into our hands; and all the people of the land have become like water because of us.

24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, (Q)all the inhabitants of the land have (p)melted away before us.”

24 They told Joshua, “The Lord has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”(g)

24 They reported to Joshua, "The LORD really has given the entire land into our control. The inhabitants of the land have melted away right in front of us!"

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

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