Deuteronomy 4:23-31

New International Version

²³ Be careful not to forget the covenant^(A) of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol^(B) in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. ²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,^(C) a jealous God.^(D)

²⁵ After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt^(E) and make any kind of idol,^(F) doing evil^(G) in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, ²⁶ I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses^(H) against you^(I) this day that you will quickly perish^(J) from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. ²⁷ The Lord will scatter^(K) you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive^(L) among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. ²⁸ There you will worship man-made gods^(M) of wood and stone,^(N) which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.^{(O) 29} But if from there you seek^(P) the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart^(Q) and with all your soul.^{(R) 30} When you are in distress^(S) and all these things have happened to you, then in later days^(T) you will return^(U) to the Lord your God and obey him. ³¹ For the Lord your God is a merciful^(V) God; he will not abandon^(W) or destroy^(X) you or forget^(Y) the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.