Deuteronomy 13 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

If a prophet or someone who claims to have prophetic dreams shows up among you and offers you a sign or a wonder,

and the sign or wonder they predicted actually happens, but then they say, "Let's follow other gods" — gods you've never known — "and let's serve them,"

don't listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. Yahweh your God is testing you to find out whether you truly love Yahweh your God with your whole heart and your whole being.

Follow Yahweh your God. Stand in awe of him. Keep his commands. Listen to his voice. Serve him. Hold on to him tightly.

That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because they were preaching rebellion against Yahweh your God — the one who brought you out of Egypt and rescued you from the slave house — trying to push you off the path that Yahweh your God told you to walk. You must cut out this kind of corruption from among you.

If your own brother, your son, your daughter, the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly tries to persuade you, saying, "Let's go serve other gods" — gods that neither you nor your ancestors have ever known,

gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the earth to the other —

don't give in to them. Don't listen to them. Don't feel sorry for them. Don't show them mercy. Don't cover for them.

You must be the one to execute them. Your hand strikes first, and then everyone else joins in.

Stone them to death, because they tried to pull you away from Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the slave house.

Then all of Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will ever do something this corrupt among you again.

If you hear this about one of the towns that Yahweh your God is giving you to live in —

that some worthless people have come from among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let's go serve other gods" — gods you've never known —

then you must investigate it thoroughly. Ask questions. Dig into it carefully. If the report turns out to be true and confirmed — if this disgusting thing really did happen among you —

you must strike down the inhabitants of that town with the sword. Completely destroy it and everyone in it, along with its livestock, by the sword.

Pile all its goods in the middle of the town square and burn the entire town and all its goods as a complete offering to Yahweh your God. It will remain a permanent ruin — it must never be rebuilt.

Don't keep any of the things set aside for destruction — not a single item. Then Yahweh will turn away from his burning anger and show you compassion and multiply you, just as he promised your ancestors,

as long as you listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, keep all his commands that I'm giving you today, and do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.