Deuteronomy 17:1-9 ▼

1 You must not sacrifice to him a bull or sheep that has a blemish or any other defect, because that is considered offensive to the LORD your God.

2 Suppose a man or woman is discovered among you--in one of your villages that the LORD your God is giving you--who sins before the Lord your God and breaks his covenant

3 by serving other gods and worshiping them--the sun, moon, or any other heavenly bodies which I have not permitted you to worship.

4 When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done in Israel,

5 you must bring to your city gates that man or woman who has done this wicked thing--that very man or woman--and you must stone that person to death.

6 At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

7 The witnesses must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge evil from among you.

8 If a matter is too difficult for you to judge--bloodshed, legal claim, or assault--matters of controversy in your villages--you must leave there and go up to the place the LORD your God chooses.

9 You will go to the Levitical priests and the judge in office in those days and seek a solution; they will render a verdict.