Verse 1: Kwathi emva kokufa kukaMose inceku kaJehova, uJehova wakhuluma kuJoshuwa indodana kaNuni, isikhonzi sikaMose, wathi:
Verse 2: “UMose inceku yami ufile; ngalokho suka uwele leli Jordani, wena nalaba bantu bonke, niye ezweni engibanika lona abantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
Verse 3: Zonke izindawo ayakunyathela kuzo amathe onyawo lwenu ngininikile zona, njengalokho ngakhuluma kuMose.
Verse 4: Kusukela ehlane nakuleli Lebanoni kuze kufike emfuleni omkhulu, umfula u-Ewufrathe, lonke izwe lamaHeti, nakuze kube seLwandle Olukhulu ngasentshonalanga, kuyakuba ngumkhawulo wenu.
Verse 5: Akuyikubakho muntu ongema phambi kwakho zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakho; njengalokho nganginaye uMose, kanjalo ngiyakuba nawe; angiyikukuyeka, angiyikukushiya.
Verse 6: “Qina, ume isibindi, ngokuba uyakwenza ukuba laba bantu badle izwe engalifungela oyise ukubanika lona.
Verse 7: Qina kuphela, ume isibindi kakhulu, uqaphele ukwenza ngokomthetho wonke akuyala ngawo uMose inceku yami, ungaphambuki kuwo ngakwesokunene noma ngakwesokhohlo ukuba ube nempumelelo nomaphi lapho uya khona.
Verse 8: Le ncwadi yomthetho mayingasuki emlonyeni wakho, kepha wozindla ngayo imini nobusuku ukuba uqaphele ukwenza njengakho konke okulotshwe kuyo, ngokuba lapho uyakuhlahlamelisa indlela yakho, uphumelele kahle.
Verse 9: Angikuyalile na? Qina, ume isibindi, ungesabi, ungabi naluvalo, ngokuba uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho unawe nomaphi lapho uya khona.”
Verse 10: UJoshuwa wayeseyala izinduna zabantu, ethi:
Verse 11: “Dabulani phakathi kwekamu, niyale abantu, nithi: ‘Zilungiseleni umphako, ngokuba emva kwezinsuku ezintathu niyakuwela leli Jordani, ningene ukuba nilidle izwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu aninika lona ukuba nilizuze.’ ”
Verse 12: UJoshuwa wakhuluma kwabakwaRubeni, nabakwaGadi, nakuyo inxenye yesizwe sakwaManase, wathi:
Verse 13: “Khumbulani izwi aniyala ngalo uMose inceku kaJehova, ethi: ‘UJehova uNkulunkulu wenu uyakuniphumuza, aninike leli zwe.’
Verse 14: Omkenu, nabantwana benu, nezinkomo zenu bayakuhlala ezweni uMose aninika lona ngaphesheya kweJordani; kepha nina niyakuwela phambi kwabafowenu nihlomile, nonke nina maqhawe anamandla, nibasize,
Verse 15: uJehova aze aphumuze abafowenu njengani, nabo badle izwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu abanika lona, andukuba nibuyele ezweni lefa lenu aninika lona uMose inceku kaJehova ngaphesheya kweJordani ngasempumalanga, nilidle.”
Verse 16: Bamphendula uJoshuwa, bathi: “Konke osiyale ngakho siyakukwenza; nomaphi lapho usithuma khona, siyakuya khona.
Verse 17: Njengalokho samlalela kukho konke, kanjalo siyakulalela wena; kepha, kuphela uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, makabe kuwe njengalokho wayenoMose.
Verse 18: Yilowo nalowo oyakuhlubuka ezwini lakho, angalaleli amazwi akho kukho konke omyala ngakho, uyakubulawa; qina kuphela, ume isibindi.”