² The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places,^(A) because a temple had not yet been built for the Name^(B) of the Lord.

⁴³ In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa^(A) and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places,^(B) however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.^[a]

¹⁷ The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

² Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains,^(A) on the hills and under every spreading tree,^(B) where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. ³ Break down their altars, smash^(C) their sacred stones and burn^(D) their Asherah^(E) poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names^(F) from those places.

⁴ You must not worship the Lord your God in their way.^{(G) 5} But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name^(H) there for his dwelling.^(I) To that place you must go;

³⁰ I will destroy your high places,^(A) cut down your incense altars^(B) and pile your dead bodies^[a] on the lifeless forms of your idols,^(C) and I will abhor^(D) you.