1. These are the commands and laws you must carefully obey in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Obey them as long as you live in the land.
2. You will inherit the lands of these nations. You must completely destroy all the places where they serve their gods. These places are on high mountains and hills and under every green tree.
3. Tear down their altars. Smash their holy stone pillars. Burn their Asherah idols. Cut down their idols. Destroy their names from those places.
4. Don’t worship the Lord your God that way.
5. But look for the place the Lord your God will choose. He will choose a place among your tribes where he is to be worshiped. Go there.
6. Bring to that place your burnt offerings and sacrifices. Bring a tenth of what you gain and your special gifts. Bring what you have promised and the special gifts you want to give the Lord. And bring the first animals born to your herds and flocks.
7. There you will be together with the Lord your God. There you and your families will eat. And you will enjoy all the good things for which you have worked. The Lord your God has blessed you.
8. Do not worship the way we have been doing today. Each person does what he thinks is right.