Joshua 20 - The Message (MSG)

Asylum-Cities

20 1-3 Then God spoke to Joshua: “Tell the People of Israel: Designate the asylum-cities, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally—that is, unintentionally—may flee there as a safe place of asylum from the avenger of blood.

4 “A person shall escape for refuge to one of these cities, stand at the entrance to the city gate, and lay out his case before the city’s leaders. The leaders must then take him into the city among them and give him a place to live with them.

5-6 “If the avenger of blood chases after him, they must not give him up—he didn’t intend to kill the person; there was no history of ill-feeling. He may stay in that city until he has stood trial before the congregation and until the death of the current high priest. Then he may go back to his own home in his hometown from which he fled.”

7 They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hills of Naphtali, Shechem in the hills of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hills of Judah.

8-9 On the other side of the Jordan, east of Jericho, they designated Bezer on the desert plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. These were the designated cities for the People of Israel and any resident foreigner living among them, so that anyone who killed someone unintentionally could flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood without a fair trial before the congregation.

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Joshua 20 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

20 And Jehovah speaketh unto Joshua, saying, 2 `Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, Give for you cities of refuge, as I have spoken unto you by the hand of Moses, 3 for the fleeing thither of a man-slayer smiting life inadvertently, without knowledge; and they have been to you for a refuge from t...
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Joshua 20 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

20 And the Lord spake to Joshua, and said, 2 Speak thou to the sons of Israel, and say thou to them, Separate ye (out) the cities of fugitives, either of men exiled for (the) unwillful shedding of blood, of which cities I spake to you by the hand of Moses, (Speak thou to the Israelites, and say thou...
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Joshua 20 - World English Bible (WEB)

20 Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses, 3 that the man slayer who kills any person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there. They shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 ...
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Joshua 20 - The Voice (VOICE)

20 Then the Eternal One spoke to Joshua. Eternal One: 2 Tell the Israelites, “You must set apart cities of refuge, as I directed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who accidentally or unintentionally kills a person may flee there. These cities shall be set up as a refuge from anyone seeking blood ...
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Joshua 20 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Six Cities of Refuge20 Then Adonai spoke to Joshua saying, 2 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael saying, ‘Designate your cities of refuge, about which I spoke to you through Moses. 3 So the manslayer who kills any person by mistake and without premeditation may flee there. They will be your refuge from the ave...
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Joshua 20 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Cities of Refuge20 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who kills any person without intent or unwittingly may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of bloo...
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Joshua 20 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Cities of Refuge20 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who kills any person without intent or unwittingly may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of bloo...
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Joshua 20 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Cities of Refuge20 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 ‘Say to the Israelites, “Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person without intent or by mistake may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. ...
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Joshua 20 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Cities of Refuge20 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Say to the Israelites: Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,(A)3 so that anyone who kills a person without intent or by mistake may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 ...
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Joshua 20 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Cities of Refuge20 The Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. 3 Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the...
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Joshua 20 - New Life Version (NLV)

20 The Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Choose the cities where you may go and be safe when you are in trouble, as I said to you through Moses. 3 So the man who kills any person without meaning to or planning to may run to one of these cities. They will be places where you can...
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Joshua 20 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Cities of Refuge(A)20 The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: (B)‘Appoint[a] for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be...
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Joshua 20 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Cities of refuge20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 ‘Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. 4 When they flee to one ...
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Joshua 20 - New International Version (NIV)

Cities of Refuge(A)20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally(B) may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.(C) 4 When they flee t...
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Joshua 20 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Cities to Run to for Safety20 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, 2 “Tell the Israelites to choose the cities to go to for safety, just as I directed you through Moses. 3 Anyone who kills a person by accident can run there for safety. So can anyone who kills a person without meaning to. The on...
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Joshua 20 - New English Translation (NET)

Israel Designates Cities of Refuge20 The Lord instructed Joshua: 2 “Have the Israelites select[a] the cities of refuge[b] that I told you about through Moses. 3 Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there;[c] these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. 4 The one w...
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