17 Don't make one that looks like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the sky.
18 Don't make a statue that looks like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish that swims in the water.
19 When you look up at the heavens, you will see the sun and moon. And you will see huge numbers of stars. Don't let anyone tempt you to bow down to the sun, moon or stars. Don't worship things the Lord your God has provided for all of the nations on earth.
20 Egypt was like a furnace that melts iron down and makes it pure. But the Lord took you and brought you out of Egypt. He wanted you to be his very own people. And that's exactly what you are.
21 The Lord was angry with me because of what you did. He took an oath that he would never let me go across the Jordan River. He promised that I would never enter that good land. It's the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own.
22 I'll die here in this land. I won't go across the Jordan. But you are about to cross over it. And you are about to take that good land as your own.
23 Be careful. Don't forget the covenant the Lord your God made with you. Don't make for yourselves a statue of any god at all. He has told you not to. So don't do it.