1 »If a prophet or an interpreter of dreams appears among you and gives you a sign or a wonder portentomenforecast of the future,
2 in order to lead you to worship and serve gods that you have not worshiped before, and even if what they promise comes true,
3 do not listen to them. Jehovah your God is allowing them to test you. He will then know that you love Jehovah with all your heart.
4 »Follow Jehovah and respect him. Obey him and keep his commandments. Worship him and be faithful to him stick to himstay close to himcleave, cling to him.
5 »Put to death any interpreters of dreams or prophets that tell you to rebel against Jehovah. For he Jehovah rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves. Such people are evil and are trying to lead you away from the life that Jehovah has commanded you to live. They must be put to death, in order to get rid of this evil.
6 »If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your very best friend tries to secretly entice you, saying: Let us go and serve other gods, gods neither you nor your fathers have known,
7 »the gods of the people who are around you from one end of the earth to the other end.
8 »Do not yield to him or listen to him. Your eye should not have pity on him. You should not spare or conceal him.
9 »You must kill him! Your hand should be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
10 »Stone him to death because he has sought to draw you away from Jehovah your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
11 »All Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.
12 »If you hear in one of the cities Jehovah has given you, anyone saying that
13 some worthless men have gone out from among you and have mislead the inhabitants of their city, saying: Let us go and serve other gods you have not known.
14 »Investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly. If it is true and the matter established that this abomination has been done among you,
15 strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword.
16 »Gather all its treasure into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its treasure with fire as a whole burnt offering to Jehovah your God. It shall be a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt.
17 »Do not take anything that is put under ban. If you comply obey, Jehovah may turn from his burning anger and show mercy to you. He may have compassion on you and make you increase, just as he swore to your fathers.
18 »Listen to the voice of Jehovah your God. Obey all his commandments that I am commanding you today. Do what is right in the sight of Jehovah your God.