Old Testament Lesson

Joshua 1:1-9 (NRSV)

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun,
Moses' assistant, saying, 2"My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan,
you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. 3Every
place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses.
4From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the
land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. 5No one shall be able
to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will
not fail you or forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in
possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7Only be strong and very
courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses
commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be
successful wherever you go. 8This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you
shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that
is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be
successful. 9I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or
dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.