16. The people answered, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods;
17. For it is the Lord our God Who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, Who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed.
18. And the Lord drove out before us all the people, the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.
19. And Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
20. If you forsake the Lord and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.
21. And the people said to Joshua, No; but we will serve the Lord.
22. Then Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve Him. And they said, We are witnesses.
23. Then put away, said he, the foreign gods that are among you and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.
24. The people said to Joshua, The Lord our God we will serve; His voice we will obey.