¹⁹ But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. ²⁰ This we will do to them: let them live, lest ^(A)wrath be upon us, ^(B)because of the oath that we swore to them.” ²¹ And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became ^(C)cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders ^(D)had said of them.

²² Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ^(E)‘We are very far from you,’ when ^(F)you dwell among us? ²³ Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, ^(G)cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” ²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had ^(H)commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so ^(I)we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. ²⁵ And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” ²⁶ So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. ²⁷ But Joshua made them that day ^(J)cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, ^(K)in the place that he should choose.