²⁹ Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn from following the Lord this day, ^(A)to build an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the Lord our God which is before His tabernacle.”

¹⁶ So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;

¹³ Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; ¹⁴ but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice

¹⁴ What shall we say then? ^(A)Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!

² Certainly not! How shall we who ^(A)died to sin live any longer in it?

⁶ Certainly not! For then ^(A)how will God judge the world?

^12 (A)Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, “You shall worship before one altar and burn incense on ^(B)it”?

²² But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He ^(A)whose ^[a]high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?” ’

³ But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid ^(A)that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

²³ Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord ^(A)in ceasing to pray for you; but ^(B)I will teach you the ^(C)good and the right way.