Moses continues speaking to the people of Israel.

## you must save alive nothing that breathes ##

This negative phrase emphasizes that this is a complete destruction. AT: "you must kill every living thing" or "you must not let any living thing stay alive" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]])

## you must utterly destroy them ##

"you must completely destroy these nations"

## Do this so that they ##

"Destroy these nations so that they"

## act in any of their disgusting ways...their gods ##

AT: "act in a disgusting way like the people in these nations have acted toward their gods"

## If you do, you will sin against Yahweh our God ##

AT: "If you act like these nations, you will sin against Yahweh our God"