31. those from Avva made Nibhaz and Tartak; and those from Sepharvaim immolated their children by fire to their city gods, King Hadad and King Anu.
32. At the same time, they were venerating the Lord, appointing from their own number priests for the high places to officiate for them in the shrines on the high places.
33. They were both venerating the Lord and serving their own gods. They followed the custom of the nations from among whom they had been deported.
34. To this very day they continue to act according to their former customs, not venerating the Lord nor observing the statutes and regulations, the law and commandment, that the Lord enjoined on the descendants of Jacob, whom he had named Israel.
35. When the Lord made a covenant with them, he commanded them: You must not venerate other gods, nor bow down to them, nor serve them, nor offer sacrifice to them,
36. but only to the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and outstretched arm. Him shall you venerate, to him shall you bow down, and to him shall you offer sacrifice.
37. You must be careful always to observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandment, which he wrote for you; you must not venerate other gods.
38. The covenant I made with you, you must not forget; you must not venerate other gods.
39. You must venerate only the Lord, your God; it is he who will deliver you from the power of all your enemies.
40. But they did not listen; they continued to act according to their former customs.
41. But these nations were both venerating the Lord and serving their own idols. Their children and children’s children are still acting like their ancestors, to this very day.