²³ And do not keep the rules of the nations which I am driving out before you; for they did all these things, and for that reason my soul was turned against them.

³ You may not do those things which were done in the land of Egypt where you were living; and you may not do those things which are done in the land of Canaan where I am taking you, or be guided in your behaviour by their rules.

²⁴ Do not make yourself unclean in any of these ways; for so have those nations whom I am driving out from before you made themselves unclean:

³⁰ So then, keep my orders, so that you may not do any of these disgusting things which were done before you, or make yourselves unclean through them: I am the Lord your God.

⁵ Not for your righteousness or because your hearts are upright are you going in to take their land; but because of the evil-doing of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and to give effect to his oath to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

²⁷ (For all these disgusting things were done by the men of this country who were there before you, and the land has been made unclean by them;)

³⁰ After their destruction take care that you do not go in their ways, and that you do not give thought to their gods, saying, How did these nations give worship to their gods? I will do as they did.

³¹ Do not so to the Lord your God: for everything which is disgusting to the Lord and hated by him they have done in honour of their gods: even burning their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

⁵⁹ When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;

¹ Give ear to the word which the Lord says to you, O people of Israel:

² This is what the Lord has said: Do not go in the way of the nations; have no fear of the signs of heaven, for the nations go in fear of them.

⁸ And in one month I put an end to the three keepers of the flock; for my soul was tired of them, and their souls were disgusted with me.