sothat you will not associatewith thesenations,thesewhich remainamongyou, or mentionthe nameof their gods,or make [anyone] swear[by them], or servethem, or bowdownto them.
They servedidols,concerning whichthe LORDhad saidto them, "You shall not dothisthing."
"In thismattermay the LORDpardonyour servant:when my mastergoesinto the houseof Rimmonto worshipthere,and he leanson my handand I bowmyself in the houseof Rimmon,when I bowmyself in the houseof Rimmon,the LORDpardonyour servantin thismatter."
"But ifyou turnawayand forsakeMy statutesand My commandmentswhichI have setbeforeyou, and goand serveothergodsand worshipthem,
The sorrowsof those who have barteredfor another[god] will be multiplied;I shall not pourout their drinkofferingsof blood,Norwill I taketheir namesupon my lips.
"You shall not worshipthem or servethem; for I, the LORDyour God,am a jealousGod,visitingthe iniquityof the fatherson the children,on the thirdand the fourthgenerations of those who hateMe,
"Now concerning everythingwhichI have saidto you, be on your guard;and do not mentionthe nameof othergods,norlet [them] be heardfrom your mouth.
"They shall not livein your land,becausethey will make you sinagainst Me; for [if] you servetheir gods,it will surelybe a snareto you."
Do not enterthe pathof the wickedAnd do not proceedin the wayof evilmen.
"Then ifthey will reallylearnthe waysof My people,to swearby My name,'As the LORDlives,'evenas they taughtMy peopleto swearby Baal,they will be builtup in the midstof My people.
"Whyshould I pardonyou? Your sonshave forsakenMe And swornby those who are not gods.When I had fedthem to the full,They committedadulteryAnd troopedto the harlot'shouse.
"For I will removethe namesof the Baalsfrom her mouth,So that they will be mentionedby their namesnomore.
"And those who bowdownon the housetopsto the hostof heaven,And those who bowdown[and] swearto the LORDand [yet] swearby Milcom,
and Neboand Baal-meon--[their] namesbeing changed--and Sibmah,and they gave[other] namesto the citieswhichthey built.
But ifyou do not driveout the inhabitantsof the landfrom beforeyou, then it shall comeabout that those whomyou letremainof them [will become] as pricksin your eyesand as thornsin your sides,and they will troubleyou in the landin whichyou live.
Do not be deceived:"Badcompanycorruptsgoodmorals."
Do not participatein the unfruitfuldeedsof darkness,but insteadevenexposethem;
"You shall fearthe LORDyour God;you shall serveHim and clingto Him, and you shall swearby His name.
"You shall fear[only] the LORDyour God;and you shall worshipHim and swearby His name.
"You shall not followothergods,anyof the godsof the peopleswhosurroundyou,
"For ifyou evergobackand clingto the restof thesenations,thesewhich remainamongyou, and intermarrywith them, so that you associatewith them and they with you,
"But you are to clingto the LORDyour God,as you have doneto thisday.
