¹⁸ I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents^(A) or keep their laws or defile yourselves^(B) with their idols.

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(A) from the empty way of life^(B) handed down to you from your ancestors,

² “The Lord was very angry^(A) with your ancestors. ³ Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return^(B) to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’^(C) says the Lord Almighty. ⁴ Do not be like your ancestors,^(D) to whom the earlier prophets^(E) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways^(F) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,^(G) declares the Lord.^(H)

⁷ And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images^(A) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols^(B) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.^(C)”

³ You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did at Baal Peor.^(A) The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, ⁴ but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today.

⁵ See, I have taught^(B) you decrees and laws^(C) as the Lord my God commanded^(D) me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering^(E) to take possession of it. ⁶ Observe^(F) them carefully, for this will show your wisdom^(G) and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”^(H)

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(A) Your hearts^(B) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

⁴⁷ “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.^(A)

⁹ Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land^(A) and committed adultery^(B) with stone^(C) and wood.^(D)