¹⁷ but^[a] you must not eat^[b] from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when^[c] you eat from it you will surely die.”^[d]

Prohibitions against Illegitimate Family Worship

20 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “You are to say to the Israelites, ‘Any man from the Israelites (or any of the resident foreigners^[a] who live in Israel) who gives any of his children^[b] to Molech^[c] must be put to death; the people of the land must pelt him with stones.^{[d] 3} I myself will set my face^[e] against that man and cut him off from the midst of his people,^[f] because he has given some of his children to Molech and thereby defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name.^{[g] 4} If, however, the people of the land shut their eyes^[h] to that man^[i] when he gives some of his children to Molech so that they do not put him to death, ⁵ I myself will set my face against that man and his clan. I will cut off from the midst of the people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution,^[j] committing prostitution by worshiping Molech.^[k]

Prohibition against Spiritists and Mediums^[l]

⁶ “‘The person who turns to the spirits of the dead and familiar spirits^[m] to commit prostitution by going after them, I will set my face^[n] against that person and cut him off from the midst of his people.

Exhortation to Holiness and Obedience

⁷ “‘You must sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. ⁸ You must be sure to obey my statutes.^[o] I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

Family Life and Sexual Prohibitions^[p]

⁹ “‘If anyone^[q] curses his father or mother^[r] he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood guilt is on himself.^{[s] 10} If a man^[t] commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife,^[u] both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. ¹¹ If a man goes to bed with^[v] his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness.^[w] Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.^{[x] 12} If a man goes to bed^[y] with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have committed perversion;^[z] their blood guilt is on themselves. ¹³ If a man goes to bed with^[aa] a male as one goes to bed with a woman,^[ab] the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves. ¹⁴ If a man has marital relations with both a woman and her mother,^[ac] it is lewdness.^[ad] Both he and they must be burned to death,^[ae] so there is no lewdness in your midst. ¹⁵ If a man has sexual relations^[af] with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal. ¹⁶ If a woman approaches any animal to copulate with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

¹⁷ “‘If a man has marital relations with^[ag] his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people.^[ah] He has exposed his sister’s nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.^[ai]

¹³ So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits.^[a]

³² Although they fully know^[a] God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die,^[b] they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.^[c]

²⁹ For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard^[a] for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.^[b]