Liber Iosue, 9

1. Quibus auditis, cuncti reges, qui trans Iordanem versabantur in montanis et in Sephela, in omni litore maris Magni, hi quoque, qui habitabant usque ad Libanum, Hetthaeus et Amorraeus, Chananaeus, Pherezaeus et Hevaeus et Iebusaeus

1. When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Per'izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites, heard of this,

2. congregati sunt pariter, ut pugnarent contra Iosue et Israel uno animo eademque sententia.

2. they gathered together with one accord to fight Joshua and Israel.

3. At hi, qui habitabant in Gabaon, audientes cuncta, quae fecerat Iosue Iericho et Hai,

3. But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

4. et callide cogitantes tulerunt sibi cibaria, saccos veteres asinis imponentes et utres vinarios vetustos, scissos atque consutos,

4. they on their part acted with cunning, and went and made ready provisions, and took worn-out sacks upon their asses, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended,

5. calceamentaque perantiqua, quae ad indicium vetustatis pittaciis consuta erant, induti veteribus vestimentis; panes quoque, quos portabant ob viaticum, duri erant et in frusta comminuti.

5. with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes; and all their provisions were dry and moldy.

6. Perrexeruntque ad Iosue, qui tunc morabatur in castris Galgalae, et dixerunt ei atque omni simul Israeli: “De terra longinqua venimus pactum vobiscum facere cupientes”. Responderuntque viri Israel ad Hevaeos atque dixerunt:

6. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; so now make a covenant with us."

7. “Ne forte in medio nostri habitetis, et non possimus foedus inire vobiscum”.

7. But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?"

8. At illi ad Iosue: “Servi, inquiunt, tui sumus”. Quibus Iosue ait: “Quinam estis et unde venistis?”.

8. They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you? And where do you come from?"

9. Responderunt: “De terra longinqua valde venerunt servi tui in nomine Domini Dei tui; audivimus enim famam potentiae eius, cuncta, quae fecit in Aegypto

9. They said to him, "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

10. et duobus Amorraeorum regibus trans Iordanem, Sehon regi Hesebon et Og regi Basan, qui erat in Astharoth.

10. and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ash'taroth.

11. Dixeruntque nobis seniores et omnes habitatores terrae nostrae: “Tollite in manibus cibaria in viam et occurrite eis ac dicite: Servi vestri sumus; foedus inite nobiscum”.

11. And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, `Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants; come now, make a covenant with us."'

12. En panes: quando egressi sumus de domibus nostris, ut veniremus ad vos, calidos sumpsimus; nunc sicci facti sunt et vetustate nimia comminuti.

12. Here is our bread; it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey, on the day we set forth to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and moldy;

13. Utres vini novos implevimus, nunc rupti sunt et soluti; vestes et calceamenta, quibus induimur et quae habemus in pedibus, ob longitudinem largioris viae trita sunt et paene consumpta”.

13. these wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they are burst; and these garments and shoes of ours are worn out from the very long journey."

14. Susceperunt igitur viri de cibariis eorum et os Domini non interrogaverunt.

14. So the men partook of their provisions, and did not ask direction from the LORD.

15. Fecitque Iosue cum eis pacem et, inito foedere, pollicitus est quod viverent; principes quoque coetus iuraverunt eis.

15. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

16. Post dies autem tres initi foederis, audierunt quod in vicino et inter eos habitarent.

16. At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.

17. Moveruntque castra filii Israel et venerunt ad civitates eorum die tertio, quarum haec vocabula sunt: Gabaon et Cephira et Beroth et Cariathiarim;

17. And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephi'rah, Be-er'oth, and Kir'iath-je'arim.

18. et non percusserunt eos filii Israel, eo quod iurassent eis principes coetus in nomine Domini, Dei Israel. Murmuravit itaque omnis coetus contra principes,

18. But the people of Israel did not kill them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.

19. qui responderunt eis: “Iuravimus illis in nomine Domini, Dei Israel, et idcirco non possumus eos contingere.

19. But all the leaders said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them.

20. Sed hoc faciemus eis: reserventur quidem, ut vivant, ne contra nos ira Domini concitetur, si peieraverimus;

20. This we will do to them, and let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them."

21. sed sic vivant, ut in usus universae multitudinis ligna caedant aquasque comportent”. Quibus haec loquentibus,

21. And the leaders said to them, "Let them live." So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had said of them.

22. vocavit Gabaonitas Iosue et dixit eis: “Cur nos decipere fraude voluistis, ut diceretis: “Procul valde habitamus a vobis”, cum in medio nostri sitis?

22. Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, "Why did you deceive us, saying, `We are very far from you,' when you dwell among us?

23. Itaque sub maledictione eritis, et non deficiet de stirpe vestra servus ligna caedens aquasque comportans in domum Dei mei”.

23. Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."

24. Qui responderunt: “Nuntiatum est nobis servis tuis, quod mandasset Dominus Deus tuus Moysi servo suo, ut traderet vobis omnem terram et disperderet cunctos habitatores eius; timuimus igitur valde pro animabus nostris, vestro terrore compulsi, et hoc consilium inivimus.

24. They 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.

25. Nunc autem in manu tua sumus: quod tibi bonum et rectum videtur, fac nobis”.

25. And now, behold, we are in your hand: do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us."

26. Fecit ergo Iosue, ut dixerat, et liberavit eos de manu filiorum Israel, ut non occiderentur.

26. So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel; and they did not kill them.

27. Decrevitque in illo die esse eos in ministerium cuncti populi et altaris Domini caedentes ligna et aquas comportantes usque in praesens tempus pro loco, quem Dominus elegisset.

27. But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to continue to this day, in the place which he should choose.