Keep the Sabbath Holy

19 Thus said the Lord to me: “Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which (A)the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, 20 and say: ‘Hear the word of the Lord, (B)you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates. 21 Thus says the Lord: Take care for the sake of your lives, and (C)do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22 And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath (D)or do any work, but (E)keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 Yet (F)they did not listen or incline their ear, (G)but stiffened their neck, that they (H)might not hear and receive instruction.

24 “‘But if you listen to me, declares the Lord, and (I)bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but (J)keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it, 25 then (K)there shall enter by the gates of this city kings and princes who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their officials, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And this city shall be inhabited forever. 26 And people shall come from (L)the cities of Judah (M)and the places around Jerusalem, (N)from the land of Benjamin, (O)from the Shephelah, from the hill country, (P)and from (Q)the Negeb, bringing (R)burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and (S)bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord. 27 But if you do not listen to me, to (T)keep the Sabbath day holy, (U)and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will (V)kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall (W)devour the palaces of Jerusalem and (X)shall not be quenched.’”

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A Test Case: Keeping the Sabbath

19 The Lord told me, “Go, stand in the gate of the people,[a] where the kings of Judah come in and go out, and in the other gates of Jerusalem as well. 20 Say to them, ‘Kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the residents of Jerusalem entering these gates, hear this message from the Lord. 21 This is what the Lord says: “Be careful! On the Sabbath day, don’t carry any load or bring anything through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Don’t bring any load out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor are you to do any work. You are to consecrate[b] the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors. 23 But they didn’t listen, nor did they pay attention.[c] They were determined[d] not to listen and not to accept instruction.[e] 24 If you listen to me carefully,” declares the Lord, “and don’t bring a load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and you consecrate the Sabbath day and don’t do any work on it, 25 then kings and princes, sitting on the throne of David will come through the gates of this city. They, their princes, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem will come riding in chariots and on horses, and this city will be inhabited forever. 26 They’ll come from the cities of Judah, from the places around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the Shephelah,[f] from the hill country, and from the Negev,[g] bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense, and bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord’s Temple. 27 But if you don’t listen to me, to consecrate the Sabbath day and not carry any load as you enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I’ll start a fire in its gates. It will consume the palaces of Jerusalem and won’t be extinguished.”’”

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Notas al pie

  1. Jeremiah 17:19 Lit. gate of the sons of the people
  2. Jeremiah 17:22 I.e. set it apart
  3. Jeremiah 17:23 Lit. incline the ear
  4. Jeremiah 17:23 Lit. stiffened their necks
  5. Jeremiah 17:23 Or discipline
  6. Jeremiah 17:26 I.e. the verdant central lowlands of Israel; cf. Josh 10:40
  7. Jeremiah 17:26 I.e. southern region of Israel; cf. Josh 10:40