| International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1 "A prophet or a diviner of dreams may arise among you, give you an omen or a miracle | 1 “Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, |
| 2that takes place, and then he may tell you, 'Let's follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let's serve them.' Even though the sign or portent comes to pass, | 2and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before— |
| 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or that diviner of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to make known whether or not you'll continue to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. | 3do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. |
| 4You must follow the LORD your God, fear him, observe his commandments, listen to his voice, serve him, and cling to him. | 4Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. |
| 5That prophet or diviner of dreams must be executed, because he advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and because he lured you from the way in which the LORD your God instructed you to live. Purge the evil from among you." | 5The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the LORD your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you. |
| 6"Your own blood brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your friend who is like your soul mate may entice you quietly. He may tell you, 'Let's go and serve other gods,' (whom neither you nor your ancestors have known | 6“Suppose someone secretly entices you—even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend—and says, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known. |
| 7from the gods of the people that surround you—whether near or far from you—from one end of the earth to the other). | 7They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth. |
| 8You must not yield to him, listen to him, look with pity on him, show compassion to him, or even cover up for him. | 8But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them. |
| 9But you must surely execute him. You must be the first to put him to death with your own hand, and then the hands of the whole community. | 9You must put them to death! Strike the first blow yourself, and then all the people must join in. |
| 10Stone him to death, because he sought to lure you from the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the land of slavery. | 10Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery. |
| 11Then all Israel will hear about it, be afraid, and won't do this evil thing again among you. | 11Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again. |
| 12"You may hear in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit | 12“When you begin living in the towns the LORD your God is giving you, you may hear |
| 13that worthless men have come from among you to entice those who live in the towns. They may say, 'Let's go and serve other gods that you haven't known.' | 13that scoundrels among you are leading their fellow citizens astray by saying, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods you have not known before. |
| 14You must thoroughly investigate and inquire if it is true that this detestable thing exists among you. If it is so, | 14In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find that the report is true and such a detestable act has been committed among you, |
| 15then put the inhabitants of the town to death by the sword. Devote everything in it to divine destruction—even its livestock—by the sword. | 15you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. |
| 16Gather whatever you've taken as spoils at the public square of the town, then burn the town, along with whatever you've taken, as an offering to the LORD your God. It will remain a permanent mound of ruins, never to be rebuilt again. | 16Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the open square and burn it. Burn the entire town as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. |
| 17Moreover, you must never take any item from those condemned things, so the LORD may yet relent from his burning anger and extend compassion, have mercy, and cause you to increase in number—as he promised by an oath to your ancestors— | 17Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a large nation, just as he swore to your ancestors. |
| 18if you obey the voice of the LORD your God by observing all his commands that I'm commanding you today. Do what is right in the sight of the LORD your God." | 18“The LORD your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice and keep all his commands that I am giving you today, doing what pleases him. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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