1 Suppose a prophet or someone who dreams dreams rises up among you and offers you a sign or a wonder,
2 and the sign or wonder he told you about takes place, and he says, "Let us go after other gods," gods you have not known, "and let us serve them."
3 Do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, because the LORD your God is putting you to the test to find out whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must fear; his commandments you must keep, and his voice you must obey; him you must serve, and to him you must hold fast.
5 That prophet or that dreamer of dreams is to be put to death, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slaves; he has tried to drive you off the way the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. In this way you will purge the evil from your midst.
6 If your own brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or the friend who is as dear to you as your own life, secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods," gods that neither you nor your fathers have known,
7 any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, whether near you or far off, from one end of the earth to the other,
8 do not give in to him and do not listen to him. Let your eye show him no pity; do not spare him and do not cover up for him.
9 You must certainly kill him. Your own hand is to be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.
10 Stone him to death with stones, because he tried to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves.
11 All Israel will hear of it and be afraid, and no one among you will ever again do such an evil thing.
12 Suppose you hear that in one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to live in
13 some worthless men, sons of Belial, have gone out from among you and have drawn away the people of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods," gods you have not known.
14 You are to inquire, search it out, and question carefully. If it proves true and certain that this detestable thing has been done among you,
15 you must strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword. Devote it to destruction, together with everything in it, and put its livestock to the sword.
16 Gather all its spoil into the middle of its open square and burn the city with all its spoil as a whole offering to the LORD your God. It is to remain a heap of ruins forever and is never to be built again.
17 None of what is devoted must stick to your hand, so that the LORD may turn from the heat of his anger, show you mercy, have compassion on you, and multiply you, as he swore to your fathers,
18 when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all his commandments that I give you today and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.