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Deuteronomy 13 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

A Warning against Idolatry

Deu 13:1

Deu 13:1[fn]“Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles,

Deu 13:2

Deu 13:2and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before—

Deu 13:3

Deu 13:3do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.

Deu 13:4

Deu 13:4Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

Deu 13:5

Deu 13:5The 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.

Deu 13:6

Deu 13:6“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.

Deu 13:7

Deu 13:7They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth.

Deu 13:8

Deu 13:8But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them.

Deu 13:9

Deu 13:9You must put them to death! Strike the first blow yourself, and then all the people must join in.

Deu 13:10

Deu 13:10Stone 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.

Deu 13:11

Deu 13:11Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again.

Deu 13:12

Deu 13:12“When you begin living in the towns the LORD your God is giving you, you may hear

Deu 13:13

Deu 13:13that scoundrels among you are leading their fellow citizens astray by saying, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods you have not known before.

Deu 13:14

Deu 13:14In 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,

Deu 13:15

Deu 13:15you must attack that town and completely destroy[fn] all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock.

Deu 13:16

Deu 13:16Then 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.

Deu 13:17

Deu 13:17Keep 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.

Deu 13:18

Deu 13:18“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.
See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NLT Footnotes
Verses 13:1-18 are numbered 13:2-19 in Hebrew text.
The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in 13:17.
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Deuteronomy Chapter 13 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras