1If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or wonder,
2and the sign or wonder he spoke of comes true, and he says, 'Let's follow other gods' — gods you have not known — 'and let's worship them,'
3do 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 all your soul.
4You must follow the LORD your God and fear him. Keep his commands, listen to him, serve him, and hold fast to him.
5That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the place of slavery. He has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to walk. You must purge the evil from among you.
6If your brother, son, daughter, the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, 'Let's go and worship other gods' — gods neither you nor your ancestors have known,
7gods of the peoples around you — whether near or far, from one end of the earth to the other —
8do not give in or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or protect him.
9Instead, you must put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people.
10Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
11Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.
12If you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in
13that wicked men have arisen among you and led the people of their town astray, saying, 'Let's go and worship other gods' — gods you have not known —
14then you must investigate and probe and inquire carefully. If it is established as true and confirmed that this detestable thing has been done among you,
15you must certainly strike the inhabitants of that town with the sword and destroy it completely — both its people and its livestock.
16Gather all the plunder of that town into the middle of the public square and burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It is to remain a ruin forever and must never be rebuilt.
17Nothing of the things set apart for destruction shall stick to your hand, so that the LORD will turn from his fierce anger, show you mercy, and in his compassion multiply you — just as he swore to your ancestors —
18if you obey the LORD your God, keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.