| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, | 1If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, |
| 2and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," | 2and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” |
| 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. | 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. |
| 4It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. | 4You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him. |
| 5That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you. | 5Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you. |
| 6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, | 6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, |
| 7gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), | 7the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), |
| 8do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. | 8you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. |
| 9You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people. | 9Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. |
| 10Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. | 10Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. |
| 11Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again. | 11Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you. |
| 12If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in | 12If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said |
| 13that troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), | 13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), |
| 14then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, | 14then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, |
| 15you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock. | 15you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock. |
| 16You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt, | 16And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt. |
| 17and none of the condemned things are to be found in your hands. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger, will show you mercy, and will have compassion on you. He will increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your ancestors-- | 17Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers, |
| 18because you obey the LORD your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes. | 18because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God. |
|
