"Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, "We [are] your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us." '

"Now therefore, you [are] cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves -- woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

"And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us."

And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.

Then he said: "Cursed [be] Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren."

And he said: "Blessed [be] the LORD, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant.

"And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people [who are] found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you.

All the people [who were] left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who [were] not of the children of Israel --

that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely -- from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day.

And he who [was] in charge of the house, and he who [was] in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared [the sons,] sent to Jehu, saying, "We [are] your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do [what is] good in your sight."