¹² That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies;^(A) they turn their backs^(B) and run^(C) because they have been made liable to destruction.^(D) I will not be with you anymore^(E) unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

¹⁴ In his anger^(A) against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands^(B) of raiders who plundered^(C) them. He sold them^(D) into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.^(E)

⁴⁵ Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites^(A) who lived in that hill country^(B) came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.^(C)

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.

²⁶ Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction.^(A) Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

¹³ Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.^(A)”

¹⁴ Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people^(B) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer^(C) there is defiled.