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Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
Modern English Version
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
Modern English Version
Idolatry Forbidden
21 You must not plant for yourself an Asherah[a] of any trees near the altar of the Lord your God, which you make for yourself. 22 You shall not set up for yourself any image, which the Lord your God hates.
17 You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God any bull or sheep that has a blemish or any defect, for that is detestable to the Lord your God.
2 If there be found among you, within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you, man or woman, who has acted wickedly in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant, 3 and has gone and served other gods and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, 4 and if it is told to you, and you have heard of it, and investigated diligently, and it is true, and the matter is certain that such a detestable thing has happened in Israel, 5 then you must bring forth that man or that woman who has committed that wicked thing to your gates, that very man or woman, and stone them with stones until they die. 6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses he that is to die must be put to death, but on the testimony of one witness he cannot be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from among you.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 16:21 Wooden symbol of a female deity.
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
21st Century King James Version
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
21st Century King James Version
21 “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God which thou shalt make thee.
22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image, which the Lord thy God hateth.
17 “Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock or sheep wherein is blemish or any evilfavoredness, for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
2 “If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman who hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God in transgressing His covenant,
3 and hath gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded,
4 and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true and the thing certain that such abomination is wrought in Israel,
5 then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman who has committed that wicked thing unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones till they die.
6 At the mouth of two witnesses or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death, but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
New International Version
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
New International Version
Worshiping Other Gods
21 Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole(A) beside the altar you build to the Lord your God,(B) 22 and do not erect a sacred stone,(C) for these the Lord your God hates.
17 Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect(D) or flaw in it, for that would be detestable(E) to him.(F)
2 If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant,(G) 3 and contrary to my command(H) has worshiped other gods,(I) bowing down to them or to the sun(J) or the moon or the stars in the sky,(K) 4 and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true(L) and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,(M) 5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.(N) 6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.(O) 7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death,(P) and then the hands of all the people.(Q) You must purge the evil(R) from among you.
Modern English Version (MEV)
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.