| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13that troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt, |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17and none of the condemned things are to be found in your hands. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger, will show you mercy, and will have compassion on you. He will increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your ancestors-- |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18because you obey the LORD your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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