Joshua 2

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Joshua, Nun's son, secretly dispatched two spies from Shittim, instructing them to explore the land, particularly Jericho. They embarked on their mission, eventually finding refuge in the home of a woman named Rahab, who was known as a harlot.

And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

The king of Jericho was informed, "Men from Israel have arrived tonight, exploring our land."

And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

The king of Jericho messaged Rahab, his voice trembling with urgency, "Hand over the men who have sought refuge in your home. They're here to spy on our land."

And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

The woman swiftly hid the two strangers, confessing with a hint of fear and confusion, "Men came to me, but I had no idea where they were from."

And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

As night fell and the city gates were closing, the men slipped away. I didn't know where they were headed. Hurry, chase them down, you'll surely catch them.

But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

She had carefully led them to the house's rooftop, skillfully concealing them among the neatly arranged flax stalks.

And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

The men chased them towards Jordan's crossing. Once their pursuers had left, they quickly closed the gate.

And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

Before they could even settle in, she climbed up to meet them on the roof, her heart pounding with anticipation.

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

She told the men, "I'm certain God has granted you this land. We're all terrified of you, and everyone living here is paralyzed with fear because of you."

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

We've heard the tales of how God, in your time of need, dried up the Red Sea to free you from Egypt. We also know what you did to the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, across the Jordan, whom you utterly destroyed.

And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

The moment we heard about you, our hearts melted with fear and our bravery vanished. For your God, He is the divine power ruling both heaven and earth.

Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:

Please, I beg you, promise me in God's name. I've shown you kindness, now show the same to my family. Give me a genuine sign of your promise.

And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

Please, I beg you, protect my family - my father, mother, siblings, and all they hold dear. Save us from the grip of death.

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

The men assured her, "We swear to protect your life if you keep our mission a secret. Once the Lord grants us this land, we promise to treat you with kindness and honesty."

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

She bravely lowered them down from her window using a rope, for her home was uniquely positioned on the city wall, where she also resided.

And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

She urgently told them, "Quickly, head to the mountains to avoid your chasers. Stay hidden there for three days until they give up and leave. Only then, you can safely continue your journey."

And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

The men told her, "We will be free of this oath you made us swear, unless you do what we now tell you."

Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.

When we arrive in the land, tie this red thread in the window you used to help us escape. Then, gather your family - your parents, siblings, and everyone else in your father's house - and bring them home to you.

And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

If anyone leaves your home and enters the street, they're responsible for their own fate, and we're not to blame. But if anyone stays with you in your home, we'll protect them as if their life is our own responsibility.

And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

If you reveal our secret, we'll be free from the promise you made us swear.

And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

With a nod of agreement, she echoed, "As you've spoken, so it shall be." She bid them farewell as they left. Then, with a sense of purpose, she tied the bright red cord in her window.

And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.

They journeyed to the mountain, staying there for three days, hiding until their chasers gave up. Despite the relentless search, their pursuers couldn't find them.

So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:

The two men came back, descending from the mountain. They crossed over and found Joshua, son of Nun. They shared with him everything they had experienced.

And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

They assured Joshua, "Indeed, God has given us control over the entire land. All its people tremble in fear because of us."