¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,^(A) in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,^(B) we will serve the Lord.”^(C)

²¹ Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver^(A) between two opinions? If the Lord^(B) is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.^(A)

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him,^(B) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.^(C)

¹⁵ “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law^(A) is going back to her people and her gods.^(B) Go back with her.”

¹⁶ But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you^(C) or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go,^(D) and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people^(E) and your God my God.^(F)

¹⁸ Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns^(A) away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.^(B)

³⁹ “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,^(A) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name^(B) with your gifts and idols.^(C)

³² Do not make a covenant^(A) with them or with their gods. ³³ Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare^(B) to you.”

²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,^(A) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.^(B)

¹⁰ I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship^(A) the gods of the Amorites,^(B) in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”