Joshua 24:19

¹⁷ For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.

¹⁸ And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!”

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.

²⁰ If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”

²¹ “No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.
KJV: And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
WEB: Joshua said to the people, “You can’t serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins.
ASV: And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve Jehovah; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression nor your sins.
DARBY: And Joshua said to the people, Ye cannot serve Jehovah, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
BLB: And Joshua said to the people, “You⁺ are not able to serve YHWH, for He [is] a holy God; He [is] a jealous God. He will not lift your⁺ transgressions and your⁺ sins.

ÅB: Og Josva sa til folket: Dere kan ikke tjene Herren, for han er en hellig Gud. En nidkjær Gud er han; han vil ikke bære over med deres overtredelser og synder.
OTB: Josva sa til folket: «Dere kan finne det vanskelig å tjene Herren. Han er en hellig Gud; han er en nidkjær Gud. Han vil ikke overse deres opprør og deres synder.
B1930: Og Josva sa til folket: I kan ikke tjene Herren, for han er en hellig Gud. En nidkjær Gud er han; han vil ikke bære over med eders overtredelser og synder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Exodus 23:21
Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:16
But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.
Read in context
Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Read in context
Psalms 99:5
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!
Read in context
Psalms 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
Read in context
1 Samuel 6:20
The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”
Read in context
Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
Read in context
Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Read in context