17. the form of any animal that is on the earth, the form of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
18. the form of anything that creeps on the ground, the form of any fish that is in the water under the earth—
19. and so that you do not lift up your eyes toward the heavens and see the sun and the moon and the stars—all the heavenly host—and are drawn away and bow down and worship them. Adonai your God has allotted them to all the peoples under all the heavens.
20. But you, Adonai has taken, and He brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt to be a people for His own inheritance, as you are this day.
21. “Furthermore Adonai was angry with me because of your words, and He swore that I would not cross over the Jordan or enter the good land that Adonai your God is giving you for an inheritance.
22. For I must die in this land; I am not crossing over the Jordan. But you will cross over and take possession of that good land.
23. Watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the covenant of Adonai your God, which He cut with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything that Adonai your God has forbidden you.
24. For Adonai your God is a consuming fire —a jealous God.
25. “When you father children and children’s children and have been in the land a long time, and you act corruptly and make a graven image in the form of anything and do evil in the sight of Adonai your God, provoking Him to anger,
26. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will certainly be carried off quickly from the land you are crossing over the Jordan to possess. You will not prolong your days on it, for you will certainly be destroyed.
27. Adonai will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Adonai will drive you.
28. There you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which do not see or hear or eat or smell.
29. But from there you will seek Adonai your God and you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
30. “When you are in distress and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you will return to Adonai your God and listen to His voice.
31. For Adonai your God is a merciful God. He will not abandon you or destroy you, or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them.