4 for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.
5 This is what you must do. You must break down their pagan altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols.
6 For you are a holy people, who belong to the lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.
7 “The lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!
8 Rather, it was simply that the lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
9 Understand, therefore, that the lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
10 But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him.