8. Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshipped the Lord.
9. He prayed, “Lord, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people.”
10. The Lord said:I promise to perform miracles for you that have never been seen anywhere on earth. Neighbouring nations will stand in fear and know that I was the one who did these marvellous things.
11. I will force out the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, but you must do what I command you today.
12. Don't make treaties with any of those people. If you do, it will be like falling into a trap.
13. Instead, you must destroy their altars and tear down the sacred poles they use in the worship of the goddess Asherah.
14. I demand your complete loyalty—you must not worship any other god!
15. Don't make treaties with the people there, or you will soon find yourselves worshipping their gods and taking part in their sacrificial meals.
16. Your men will even marry their women and be influenced to worship their gods.
17. Don't make metal images of gods.