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Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
New International Version
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
New International Version
Worshiping Other Gods
21 Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole(A) beside the altar you build to the Lord your God,(B) 22 and do not erect a sacred stone,(C) for these the Lord your God hates.
17 Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect(D) or flaw in it, for that would be detestable(E) to him.(F)
2 If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant,(G) 3 and contrary to my command(H) has worshiped other gods,(I) bowing down to them or to the sun(J) or the moon or the stars in the sky,(K) 4 and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true(L) and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,(M) 5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.(N) 6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.(O) 7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death,(P) and then the hands of all the people.(Q) You must purge the evil(R) from among you.
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
International Standard Version
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:7
International Standard Version
Prohibited Practices
21 “You are not to set up a sacred pole[a] beside the altar of the Lord your God that you will build. 22 Furthermore, you are not to erect for yourselves a sacred stone pillar, because the Lord your God detests these things. 17 1 You are not to sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has a defect or any flaw in it, because that is detestable to the Lord your God.”
Death to the Idolater
2 “You may discover that a man or woman living in one of your cities that the Lord your God is about to give you has done evil in the eyes of the Lord your God by transgressing his covenant. 3 He may be following and serving other gods by bowing down to them—that is, to the sun, the moon, or to any of the heavenly host[b] (something I did not command). 4 When it is reported to you or you hear of it, you are to investigate it thoroughly. When the truth has been established that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5 summon the man or the woman who did this evil thing to your city gates, and then stone the man or the woman to death. 6 Based on the testimony[c] of two or three witnesses, they must surely die, but they are not to die based on the testimony of one person. 7 Let the witnesses[d] be the first to begin executing them, then the rest of[e] the people are to follow. By doing this you will purge evil from among you.”
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 16:21 Lit. Asherah; i.e. a cultic pillar
- Deuteronomy 17:3 Or any of the stars or planets, if referring to astronomical bodies; or supernatural beings, if referring to fallen or unfallen angelic armies
- Deuteronomy 17:6 Lit. mouth
- Deuteronomy 17:7 Lit. the hands of the witnesses
- Deuteronomy 17:7 Lit. the hand of all
New International Version (NIV) 
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International Standard Version (ISV) 
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