16. And the people answered and said, Chalilah lanu (far be it from us) that we should forsake Hashem, to serve elohim acharim;
17. For Hashem Eloheinu, He it is that brought us up and Avoteinu out of Eretz Mitzrayim, from the bais avadim, and which did those haotot hagedolot in our sight, and was shomer over us in kol HaDerech in which we went, and among Kol HaAmim through whom we passed;
18. And Hashem drove out from before us Kol HaAmim, even HaEmori which dwelt in HaAretz; therefore will we also serve Hashem; for He is Eloheinu.
19. And Yehoshua said unto HaAm, Ye are not able to serve Hashem; for He is an Elohim Kedoshim; He is an El Kanno (jealous G-d); He will not forgive your paysha'im nor your chattot.
20. If ye forsake Hashem, and serve elohei nekhar (foreign g-ds), then He will turn and bring you rah, and consume you, after that He hath done you tov.
21. And HaAm said unto Yehoshua, No; but we will serve Hashem.
22. And Yehoshua said unto HaAm, Ye are edim against yourselves that ye have chosen for you Hashem, to serve Him. And they said, We are edim.
23. Now therefore put away, said he, the elohei hanechar which are among you, and yield your levav unto Hashem Elohei Yisroel.
24. And HaAm said unto Yehoshua, Hashem Eloheinu will we serve, and His voice will we obey.
25. So Yehoshua made a Brit with HaAm that day, and set them a chok and a mishpat at Shechem.
26. And Yehoshua wrote these words in the Sefer Torah Elohim, and took an Even Gedolah, and set it up there under an oak, that was near the Mikdash Hashem.