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When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11 or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Because of these abominations, Yahweh your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless with Yahweh your God. 14 For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you so to do.

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A Call to Holy Living

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.[a] And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13 But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

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Footnotes

  1. 18:10 Or never make your son or daughter pass through the fire.

Occult Practices

When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate(A) the detestable ways(B) of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire,(C) who practices divination(D) or sorcery,(E) interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,(F) 11 or casts spells,(G) or who is a medium or spiritist(H) or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.(I) 13 You must be blameless(J) before the Lord your God.(K)

The Prophet

14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination.(L) But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

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