You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
The LORD must not be worshiped in those ways, because the nations do abominable things for their gods, even burning their sons and daughters in the fire.
This verse gives the moral reason imitation is forbidden.
29When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations you are entering to dispossess, and you drive them out and live in their land, 30be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.” 31You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. 32See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.