¹⁹ When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing^(A) on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,”^(B) they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.

³⁰ “‘But anyone who sins defiantly,^(A) whether native-born or foreigner,^(B) blasphemes the Lord^(C) and must be cut off from the people of Israel.^(D)

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(A) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^(B)

¹⁶ “We will not listen^(A) to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!^{(B) 17} We will certainly do everything we said we would:^(C) We will burn incense^(D) to the Queen of Heaven^(E) and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials^(F) did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.^(G) At that time we had plenty of food^(H) and were well off and suffered no harm.^(I)

²⁴ But they did not listen^(A) or pay attention;^(B) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(C) They went backward^(D) and not forward.

³ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways^(A) and your actions, and I will let you live^(B) in this place. ⁴ Do not trust^(C) in deceptive^(D) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” ⁵ If you really change^(E) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,^{(F) 6} if you do not oppress^(G) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood^(H) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods^(I) to your own harm, ⁷ then I will let you live in this place, in the land^(J) I gave your ancestors^(K) for ever and ever. ⁸ But look, you are trusting^(L) in deceptive^(M) words that are worthless.

⁹ “‘Will you steal^(N) and murder,^(O) commit adultery^(P) and perjury,^[a](Q) burn incense to Baal^(R) and follow other gods^(S) you have not known, ¹⁰ and then come and stand^(T) before me in this house,^(U) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?^{(V) 11} Has this house,^(W) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers^(X) to you? But I have been watching!^(Y) declares the Lord.

² If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant,^(A)

³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember^(A) all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves^(B) by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts^(C) and eyes.

⁶ Let no one deceive you^(A) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(B) comes on those who are disobedient.^(C)