24:15a

But: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates a contrast with the previous sentence. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. Choose a connecting word that indicates a contrast in your language.

if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD is more literally “but if it is bad in your eyes to serve Yahweh.”

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

But if you (plur.) do not want to serve Yahweh
-or-
But if it doesn’t seem good to you to obey Yahweh

In some languages it may be more natural to translate this clause as an independent sentence. For example:

But you may not want to worship Yahweh.

24:15b

then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: Joshua indicated that the Israelites had a choice to make about whom they would worship and obey.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

⌊Then⌋ choose for yourselves ⌊the gods⌋ that you ⌊want to⌋ worship and obey

24:15c

whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates: This refers to the gods that the ancestors of the Israelites worshiped when they lived in Mesopotamia, on the east side of the Euphrates River. Some English versions make this reference clear. For example:

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

⌊Serve⌋ the gods whom your ancestors served ⌊when they lived in the land⌋ beyond the Euphrates River
-or-
You can decide to worship the gods whom your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River.
-or-
the gods your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia (Good News Translation)

24:15d

or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living: The term Amorites refers here to all the people who lived in the land of Canaan.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

or serve the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living
-or-
You can decide to worship the gods of the Amor people. You are living in their land.

24:15e

As for me and my house: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As for me is more literally “but I.” The pronoun “I” is emphatic in Hebrew. Joshua contrasted himself with the other Israelites. The Berean Standard Bible shows this emphasis in English with the words As for me. Choose a natural way to show this emphasis in your language.

my house: The term my house refers to Joshua’s family and the other people who live with him.

we will serve the LORD: The clause we will serve the LORD indicates that Joshua and everyone in his household would honor and obey Yahweh.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

But I myself and my family will obey Yahweh
-or-
But for myself and my household, we (excl.) will worship Yahweh.

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