Dealing with Idolaters

⁶ “Your own blood brother,^[a] your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your friend who is like your soul mate may entice you quietly. He may tell you, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods’ (whom neither you nor your ancestors have known ⁷ from the gods of the people that surround you—whether near or far from you—from one end of the earth to the other). ⁸ You are not to yield to him, listen to him, look with pity on him, show compassion to him, or even cover up for him. ⁹ Instead, you are surely to execute him. You must be the first to put him to death with your own hand, and then the hands of the whole community. ¹⁰ Stone him to death, because he sought to lure you from the Lord your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the land of slavery. ¹¹ Then all Israel will hear about it, be afraid, and won’t do this evil thing again among you.