¹⁸ But keep away from the devoted things,^(A) so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction^(B) and bring trouble^(C) on it.

²¹ Dear children,^(A) keep yourselves from idols.^(B)

¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^(A) but rather expose them.

¹¹ Israel has sinned;^(A) they have violated my covenant,^(B) which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied,^(C) they have put them with their own possessions.^{(D) 12} That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies;^(E) they turn their backs^(F) and run^(G) because they have been made liable to destruction.^(H) I will not be with you anymore^(I) unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

Achan’s Sin

7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things^[a];^(A) Achan^(B) son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,^[b] the son of Zerah,^(C) of the tribe of Judah,^(D) took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned^(E) against Israel.^(F)

²⁵ Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble^(A) on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him,^(B) and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.^(C)

¹⁷ Therefore,

²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(A) orphans and widows^(B) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(C)

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere.^(A) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.^(B)