Jeremiah 17:19-27

Evangelical Heritage Version

Keep the Sabbath Day Holy

¹⁹ This is what the Lord told me.

Go and stand at the Gate of the People, through which the kings of Judah enter and leave, and in all the gates of Jerusalem. ²⁰ Tell them this message.

Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, all of Judah, and all who live in Jerusalem, and all who enter by these gates.

²¹ This is what the Lord says. Protect your lives. Do not carry a load of things on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. ²² Do not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Do not do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy as I commanded your fathers.

²³ But they did not listen or pay attention. They became stiff-necked so that they would not hear or receive instruction.

²⁴ However, if you listen carefully to me, declares the Lord, and if you do not carry any load through the gates of the city on the Sabbath day, but you instead keep the Sabbath day holy and do not do any work, ²⁵ then kings who sit on David’s throne and their officials will enter in through the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses, along with the men of Judah and with those who live in Jerusalem. They will live in this city forever. ²⁶ They will come from the cities of Judah, from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah,^[a] from the hill country, and from the Negev.^[b] They will bring burnt offerings, sacrifices, fellowship offerings,^[c] incense, and thank offerings to the House of the Lord. ²⁷ But if you will not listen to me and do not keep the Sabbath day holy, and you enter the gates of Jerusalem carrying a load on the Sabbath day, then I will set fire to its gates. I will burn the public buildings of Jerusalem, and the fire will not be put out.