Keeping the Sabbath Holy

¹⁹ This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the People’s Gate [^Cof Jerusalem], where the kings of Judah go in and out. And then go to all the other gates of Jerusalem. ²⁰ Say to them there: ‘Hear the word of the Lord, kings of Judah, all you people of Judah, and all who live in Jerusalem, who come through these gates into the city. ²¹ This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to ·carry [lift] a ·load [burden] on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. ²² Don’t take a ·load [burden] out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work on that day. But keep the Sabbath as a holy day, as I commanded your ·ancestors [fathers; Ex. 20:8–11; 31:12–18; Deut. 5:12–15]. ²³ But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not listen or ·pay attention [^Lincline their ear] to me. They ·were very stubborn [^Lstiffened their necks] and did not listen. ·I punished them, but it didn’t do any good [^LThey did not take instruction/discipline]. ²⁴ But you must ·be careful to obey [listen to] me, says the Lord. You must not bring a ·load [burden] through the gates of this city [^CJerusalem] on the Sabbath, but you must keep the Sabbath as a holy day and not do any work on that day.

²⁵ “‘If you obey this command, kings who sit on David’s throne [2 Sam. 7:11–16] will come through the gates of ·Jerusalem [^Lthis city] with their officers. They will come riding in chariots and on horses, along with the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And ·the city of Jerusalem [^Lthis city] will have people living in it forever. ²⁶ People will come [^Cto Jerusalem] from the villages around it, from the towns of Judah, from the land of Benjamin, from the ·western hills [^LShephelah], from the mountains, and from ·southern Judah [^Lthe Negev]. They will all bring to the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], sacrifices, ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], incense, and ·offerings to show thanks to God [thank offerings]. ²⁷ But you must obey me and keep the Sabbath day as a holy day. You must not carry any loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. If you don’t ·obey [listen to] me, to keep the Sabbath day as a holy day, I will ·start [kindle] a fire at its gates [^Cof Jerusalem], and it will ·burn until it burns even [^Lconsume; devour] the ·strong towers [palaces]. And it will not be put out.’”