¹² Be careful not to make a treaty^(A) with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare^(B) among you. ¹³ Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles.^{[a](C) 14} Do not worship any other god,^(D) for the Lord, whose name^(E) is Jealous, is a jealous God.^(F)

¹⁵ “Be careful not to make a treaty^(G) with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute^(H) themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.^{(I) 16} And when you choose some of their daughters as wives^(J) for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods,^(K) they will lead your sons to do the same.

⁴ for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods,^(A) and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy^(B) you.

³⁰ and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared^(A) by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”^(B)

Occult Practices

⁹ When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate^(A) the detestable ways^(B) of the nations there.