Deuteronomy 4:15-31

New International Version

Idolatry Forbidden

¹⁵ You saw no form^(A) of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb^(B) out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,^{(C) 16} so that you do not become corrupt^(D) and make for yourselves an idol,^(E) an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, ¹⁷ or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,^{(F) 18} or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. ¹⁹ And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,^(G) the moon and the stars^(H)—all the heavenly array^(I)—do not be enticed^(J) into bowing down to them and worshiping^(K) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. ²⁰ But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace,^(L) out of Egypt,^(M) to be the people of his inheritance,^(N) as you now are.

²¹ The Lord was angry with me^(O) because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. ²² I will die in this land;^(P) I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.^{(Q) 23} Be careful not to forget the covenant^(R) of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol^(S) in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. ²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire,^(T) a jealous God.^(U)

²⁵ After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt^(V) and make any kind of idol,^(W) doing evil^(X) in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, ²⁶ I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses^(Y) against you^(Z) this day that you will quickly perish^(AA) 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^(AB) you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive^(AC) among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. ²⁸ There you will worship man-made gods^(AD) of wood and stone,^(AE) which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.^{(AF) 29} But if from there you seek^(AG) the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart^(AH) and with all your soul.^{(AI) 30} When you are in distress^(AJ) and all these things have happened to you, then in later days^(AK) you will return^(AL) to the Lord your God and obey him. ³¹ For the Lord your God is a merciful^(AM) God; he will not abandon^(AN) or destroy^(AO) you or forget^(AP) the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.