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Saturday, September 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Bishop's Bible

Joshua 24:15

And yf it seeme euyll vnto you to serue the Lorde, then chose you this day who you wil serue, whether ye goddes which your fathers serued (that were on the other side of the fludde) either ye goddes of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwel: As for me and my house, we wil serue the Lorde.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Choice;   Contingencies;   Decision;   Family;   Good and Evil;   Obedience;   Shechem;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Call, Divine;   Capital and Labour;   Choice;   Choose, Exhortations to;   Decision;   Divine;   Employers (Masters);   Exhortations;   Family;   God;   Home;   Invitations, Divine;   Invitations-Warnings;   Joshua;   Life's Purpose;   Masters (Employers);   Moral Agents, Free;   Purpose;   Religion;   Wise;   Worship;   The Topic Concordance - Idolatry;   Service;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Amorites, the;   Decision;   Devotedness to God;   Families;   Masters;   Missionaries, All Christians Should Be as;   Prayer, Social and Family;   Steadfastness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Amorites;   Idol, idolatry;   Joshua the son of nun;   Shechem;   Worship;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elect, Election;   Life;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Master;   Order;   Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Flood;   Shechem;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Abraham;   Cornelius;   Philemon;   Pillars;   Ruth;   Satyrs;   Shechem (1);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Amorites;   Beyond the River;   Confessions and Credos;   Covenant;   Ebal;   Flood;   God of the Fathers;   Joshua;   Joshua, the Book of;   Mission(s);   Shechem;   Temple of Jerusalem;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Flood;   Shechem;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abraham ;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Conquest of Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Catechist;   Choose;   Israel, Religion of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Shechem;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for November 24;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for July 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”
Hebrew Names Version
If it seem evil to you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amori, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
King James Version
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .
Lexham English Bible
But if it is bad in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you want to serve, whether it is the gods that your ancestors served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve Yahweh."
English Standard Version
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord , choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ."
New Century Version
But if you don't want to serve the Lord , you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord ."
New English Translation
If you have no desire to worship the Lord , choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the Lord !"
Amplified Bible
"If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
New American Standard Bible
"But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lorde, choose you this day whome yee will serue, whether the gods which your fathers serued (that were beyond the flood) or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwel: but I & mine house will serue the Lord.
Legacy Standard Bible
If it is evil in your sight to serve Yahweh, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh."
Contemporary English Version
But if you don't want to worship the Lord , then choose right now! Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you're living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you'll worship their gods. I won't. My family and I are going to worship and obey the Lord !
Complete Jewish Bible
If it seems bad to you to serve Adonai , then choose today whom you are going to serve! Will it be the gods your ancestors served beyond the River? or the gods of the Emori, in whose land you are living? As for me and my household, we will serve Adonai !"
Darby Translation
And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods whom your fathers that were on the other side of the river served, or the gods of the Amorite, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
"But maybe you don't want to serve the Lord . You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River? Or will you serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land? You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord ."
George Lamsa Translation
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Good News Translation
If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living. As for my family and me, we will serve the Lord ."
Literal Translation
And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve Jehovah, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, whether the gods whom your fathers served Beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and myhouse, we will serve Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf ye like not to serue the LORDE, the chose you this daye whom ye wyll serue: the God whom youre fathers serued beionde ye water, or ye goddes of the Amorites, in whose lode ye dwell. As for me and my house, we wyll serue the LORDE.
American Standard Version
And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
And if it seems evil to you to be the servants of the Lord, make the decision this day whose servants you will be: of the gods whose servants your fathers were across the River, or of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living: but I and my house will be the servants of the Lord.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.'
King James Version (1611)
And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lord, choose you this day whome you will serue, whether the gods which your fathers serued that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose lande ye dwell: but as for mee and my house, we will serue the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But if it seem not good to you to serve the Lord, choose to yourselves this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods of your fathers that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, among whom ye dwell upon their land: but I and my house will serve the Lord, for he is holy.
English Revised Version
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But if it semeth yuel to you, `that ye serue the Lord, chesyng is youun to you; chese ye to you to dai that, that plesith, whom ye owen most to serue; whether to goddis, whiche youre fadris serueden in Mesopotanye, whether to the goddis of Ammorreis, in whose lond ye dwellen; forsothe Y, and myn hows schulen serue the Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
and if wrong in your eyes to serve Jehovah -- choose for you to-day whom ye do serve; -- whether the gods whom your fathers served, which [are] beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorite in whose land ye are dwelling; and I and my house -- we serve Jehovah.'
Update Bible Version
And if it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
And if it seemeth evil to you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
World English Bible
If it seem evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.
New King James Version
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
New Living Translation
But if you refuse to serve the Lord , then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord ."
New Life Bible
If you think it is wrong to serve the Lord, choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods your fathers worshiped on the other side of the river, or choose the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
New Revised Standard
Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord , choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord ."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, if it be, a vexation, in your eyes, to serve Yahweh, choose ye for yourselves, to-day, whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye are dwelling, - but, I and my house, will serve Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve thee Lord,
Revised Standard Version
And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
THE MESSAGE
"If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God , then choose a god you'd rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship God ."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Contextual Overview

15 And yf it seeme euyll vnto you to serue the Lorde, then chose you this day who you wil serue, whether ye goddes which your fathers serued (that were on the other side of the fludde) either ye goddes of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwel: As for me and my house, we wil serue the Lorde. 16 The people aunswered and sayd: God forbyd, that we should forsake the Lord, and serue straunge goddes. 17 For the Lorde our God, he it is that brought vs & our fathers out of the land of Egypt, & from the house of bondage, and whiche did those great miracles in our sight, and preserued vs in al the way that we went, and among al the people which we came thorowe. 18 And the Lord did cast out before vs all the people, euen the Amorites whiche dwelt in the lande: And therfore wil we also serue the Lord, for he is our God. 19 And Iosuah sayde vnto the people, Ye can not serue the Lord: for he is an holy God, and a ielous God, and cannot beare your iniquite and sinne. 20 Yf ye forsake the Lorde and serue straunge goddes, he will turne and do you euill, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. 21 And the people sayde vnto Iosuah: Nay, but we will serue the Lorde. 22 And Iosuah sayde vnto the people: Ye are witnesses against your selues, that ye haue chosen you the Lorde to serue him. And they sayde: we are witnesses. 23 Then put away [sayde he] the strauge goddes whiche are among you, & bowe your heartes vnto the Lorde God of Israel. 24 The people sayde vnto Iosuah: The Lorde our God will we serue, and his voyce will we obey.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

choose: Ruth 1:15, Ruth 1:16, 1 Kings 18:21, Ezekiel 20:39, John 6:67

whether the gods: Joshua 24:14

or the gods: Exodus 23:24, Exodus 23:32, Exodus 23:33, Exodus 34:15, Deuteronomy 13:7, Deuteronomy 29:18, Judges 6:10

as for me: Genesis 18:19, Psalms 101:2, Psalms 119:106, Psalms 119:111, Psalms 119:112, John 6:68, Acts 11:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - unto his Exodus 10:9 - We will go Exodus 16:4 - prove them Exodus 23:25 - And ye Leviticus 14:42 - General Deuteronomy 1:7 - the mount Deuteronomy 30:19 - choose life Joshua 5:1 - all the kings Joshua 22:5 - serve Joshua 24:2 - served other gods Ruth 1:8 - Go Ruth 2:4 - And they 1 Samuel 1:21 - General 2 Samuel 6:20 - bless 2 Samuel 15:8 - I will serve 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Amorite 1 Chronicles 16:43 - to bless 1 Chronicles 21:10 - choose 2 Chronicles 14:4 - commanded 2 Chronicles 30:8 - serve Ezra 5:11 - We are Esther 4:16 - I also Psalms 5:7 - But Psalms 17:15 - As Psalms 73:2 - But Psalms 105:7 - the Lord Psalms 119:8 - I will Psalms 119:30 - chosen Psalms 119:57 - I have Psalms 119:115 - for I will Psalms 119:173 - for Isaiah 43:9 - that they may Isaiah 56:4 - choose Malachi 3:18 - between him Matthew 6:24 - serve Matthew 12:30 - that is Matthew 27:17 - Whom Luke 10:42 - chosen Luke 16:13 - servant Acts 10:2 - with Acts 18:8 - believed Acts 21:5 - with Romans 6:16 - to whom Galatians 4:8 - ye did Ephesians 6:4 - but 1 Timothy 3:4 - ruleth Revelation 3:15 - thou

Cross-References

Genesis 11:27
These are the generations of Tarah: Tarah begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran: Haron begat Lot.
Genesis 21:14
And so Abraham rose vp early in the mornyng, and tooke bread, and a bottel of water, and gaue it vnto Hagar, puttyng it on her shoulder, and the lad also, and sent her away: who departing, wandered vp and downe in the wildernesse of Beer seba.
Genesis 24:18
And she sayd: drinke my Lorde. And she hasted, and let downe her pytcher vpon her arme, and gaue him drinke.
Genesis 24:19
And when she had geuen him drinke, she sayde: I wyll drawe water for thy Camelles also, vntyl they haue dronke ynough.
Genesis 24:20
And she poured out her pytcher into the trough hastyly, and ranne agayne vnto the well to draw [water] and drew for all his Camelles.
Genesis 24:23
And sayde: whose daughter art thou? tell me I pray thee: is there rowme in thy fathers house for vs to lodge in?
Genesis 24:24
She aunswered hym: I am the daughter of Bethuel the sonne of Milcha whiche she bare vnto Nachor.
Genesis 24:36
And Sara my maisters wyfe bare hym a sonne when she was olde, and vnto him hath he geue all that he hath.
Genesis 24:40
And he answered me: the Lord before whom I walke, wyll sende his angell with thee, and prosper thy iourney, and thou shalt take a wyfe for my sonne of my kinred, and of my fathers house.
Genesis 24:45
And before I had made an ende of speakyng in myne heart, beholde, Rebecca came foorth, and her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went downe vnto the well, and drewe water, and I sayde vnto her, Geue me drinke I pray thee.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord,.... Irksome and troublesome, a burden, a weariness, and not a pleasure and delight:

choose you this day whom you will serve; say if you have found a better master, and whose service will be more pleasant and profitable:

whether the gods your fathers served, that [were] on the other side of the flood; the river Euphrates; these may bid rid rest for antiquity, but then they were such their fathers had relinquished, and for which undoubtedly they had good reason; and to take up with the worship of these again was to impeach their wisdom, judgment, and good sense:

or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but then these were such as could not preserve their worshippers in the land, or the Israelites had not dwelt in it, and therefore no dependence could be had upon them for future security. The Amorites are only mentioned, because they were a principal nation, some of which dwelt on one side Jordan, and some on the other, and indeed there were of them in the several parts of the land:

but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord; be your choice as it may be: this was the resolution of Joshua, and so far as he knew the sense of his family, or had influence over it, could and did speak for them; and which he observes as an example set for the Israelites to follow after; he full well knowing that the examples of great personages, such as governors, supreme and subordinate, have great influence over those that are under them,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Choose - Service of God in sincerity and truth can only result from a free and willing allegiance of the heart. This accordingly is what Joshua invites, as Moses had done before him (Deuteronomy 30:15 ff).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 24:15. Choose you this day whom ye will serve — Joshua well knew that all service that was not free and voluntary could be only deceit and hypocrisy, and that God loveth a cheerful giver. He therefore calls upon the people to make their choice, for God himself would not force them - they must serve him with all their heart if they served him at all. As for himself and family, he shows them that their choice was already fixed, for they had taken JEHOVAH for their portion.


 
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