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