Worshiping Other Gods

13 ^[a]If a prophet,^(A) or one who foretells by dreams,^(B) appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, ² and if the sign^(C) or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods”^(D) (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” ³ you must not listen to the words of that prophet^(E) or dreamer.^(F) The Lord your God is testing^(G) you to find out whether you love^(H) him with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁴ It is the Lord your God you must follow,^(I) and him you must revere.^(J) Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast^(K) to him. ⁵ That prophet or dreamer must be put to death^(L) 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^(M) you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil^(N) from among you.

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.^(A)

²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools^(A)

²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie,^(A) and worshiped and served created things^(B) rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.^(C) Amen.^(D)

⁴ People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like^(A) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

¹⁴ Because of the signs^(A) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(B) the inhabitants of the earth.^(C) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(D) 15} The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship^(E) the image to be killed.^{(F) 16} It also forced all people, great and small,^(G) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^{(H) 17} so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(I) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(J)

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(A) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(B) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^{(C) 7} It was given power to wage war^(D) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^(E)