New Revised Standard Version
Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Not all the people need go up; about two or three thousand men should go up and attack Ai. Since they are so few, do not make the whole people toil up there.”

Contemporary English Version
They went back to Joshua and reported, "You don't need to send the whole army to attack Ai--2,000 or 3,000 troops will be enough. Why bother the whole army for a town that small?"

New American Bible
they returned to Joshua and advised, “Do not send all the people up; if only about two or three thousand go up, they can attack and overcome Ai. You need not tire all the people: the enemy there are few.”

Douay-Rheims Bible
And returning, they said to him: Let not all the people go up, but let two or three thousand men go, and destroy the city: why should all the people be troubled in vain, against enemies that are very few?

And returning, they said to him: Let not all the people go up, but let two or three thousand men go, and destroy the city: why should all the people be troubled in vain, against enemies that are very few?

about two [heb] about

2000 men, or about

3000 men.
labour

Proverbs 13:4 The sluggard willeth, and willeth not: but the soul of them that work, shall be made fat.

Proverbs 21:25 Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter by the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter and shall not be able.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest: lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief.

Hebrews 6:11,12 And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end: . . .

2 Peter 1:5,10 And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue: And in virtue, knowledge: . . .