² And the Philistines put their forces in order against Israel, and the fighting was hard, and Israel was overcome by the Philistines, who put to the sword about four thousand of their army in the field.

⁵ The men of Ai put to death about thirty-six of them, driving them from before the town as far as the stoneworks, and overcoming them on the way down: and the hearts of the people became like water.

⁶ Then Joshua, in great grief, went down on the earth before the ark of the Lord till the evening, and all the chiefs of Israel with him, and they put dust on their heads.

⁷ And Joshua said, O Lord God, why have you taken us over Jordan only to give us up into the hands of the Amorites for our destruction? If only it had been enough for us to keep on the other side of Jordan!

⁸ O Lord, what am I to say now that Israel have given way before their attackers?

¹² For this reason the children of Israel have given way, turning their backs in flight before their attackers, because they are cursed: I will no longer be with you, if you do not put the cursed thing away from among you.

⁸ He took up his position and in a loud voice said to the armies of Israel, Why have you come out to make war? Am I not a Philistine and you servants of Saul? Send out a man for yourselves and let him come down to me.

²¹ And Israel and the Philistines had put their forces in position, army against army.

⁹ But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies.

¹⁰ Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves.

⁷ For they have taken Jacob for their meat, and made waste his house.

⁸ Do not keep in mind against us the sins of our fathers; let your mercy come to us quickly, for we have been made very low.

⁴⁰ Then the wrath of the Lord was burning against his people, and he was angry with his heritage.

⁴¹ And he gave them into the hands of the nations; and they were ruled by their haters.

⁴⁰ Let us make search and put our ways to the test, turning again to the Lord;