29 “When the Lord your God annihilates the nations before you,(A) which you are entering to take possession of,(B) and you drive them out and live in their land, 30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways(C) after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, ‘How did these nations worship their gods? I’ll also do the same.’ 31 You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice every detestable act, which the Lord hates, for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 Be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.(D)

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Don’t Become Ensnared

29 “When the Lord your God eliminates the nations that you are about to dispossess so you can live in their land, 30 after they have been destroyed in your sight, be careful not to be ensnared as they were. Otherwise, you will seek their gods and ask yourselves, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.’ 31 You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practiced in the presence of their gods every sort of abomination that the Lord hates. Moreover, they sacrificed[a] their sons and daughters to their gods. 32 [b]Now as to everything I’m commanding you, you must be careful to observe it. Don’t add to or subtract from it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:31 Lit. they burned in fire
  2. Deuteronomy 12:32 This v. is 13:1 in MT

29 The Lord your God will cut off(A) before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land,(B) 30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared(C) by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”(D) 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates.(E) They even burn their sons(F) and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.(G)

32 See that you do all I command you; do not add(H) to it or take away from it.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:32 In Hebrew texts this verse (12:32) is numbered 13:1.