15 In those days in Judah, I saw people working on the Sabbath {\cf2\super [85]} day. I saw people pressing grapes to make wine. I saw people bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys. I saw people carrying grapes, figs, and all kinds of things in the city. They were bringing all these things into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them about this. I told them they must not sell food on the Sabbath day.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
15 In those days I saw in Judah men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves or heaps of grain with which they loaded donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I protested and warned them on the day they sold the produce.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses therewith; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
15 In those days I saw people in Judah using the winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also collecting piles of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of load, and then bringing them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath. I warned them at that time against selling food.
15 In those days, I saw, in Judah, some who were treading the presses on the Sabbath, and who were carrying sheaves, and placing on donkeys burdens of wine, and of grapes, and of figs, and all manner of burdens, and who were bringing these into Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath. And I contended with them, so that they would sell on a day when it was permitted to sell.
“We promise not to work on the Sabbath day. If the people living around us bring grain or other things to sell on the Sabbath, we won’t buy those things on that special day or on any other holiday. Every seventh year, {\cf2\super [60]} we won’t plant or work the land. And every seventh year, we will cancel every debt that other people owe to us.\par
But I warned those businessmen and merchants. I said to them, “Don’t stay the night in front of the wall. If you do that again, I will arrest you.” So from that time on they didn’t come on the Sabbath {\cf2\super [90]} day to sell their things.
That will happen when you stop sinning against God’s law about the Sabbath. {\cf2\super [447]} And that will happen when you stop doing things to please yourself on that special day. You should call the Sabbath a happy day. You should honor the Lord’s special day. You should honor that special day by not doing and saying those things you do every other day.
“‘But the family of Israel turned against me in the desert. They did not follow my laws. They refused to obey my rules. \{And they are good rules\}—if a person obeys those rules, then he will live. They treated my special days of rest as if they were not important. They worked on those days many, many times. I decided to destroy them in the desert—to let them feel the full force of my anger.
“But if you don’t listen to me and obey me, then bad things will happen. If you carry loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath {\cf2\super [148]} day, then you are not keeping it a holy day. So I will start a fire that can’t be put out. That fire will start at the gates of Jerusalem, and it will burn until it burns even the palaces. {\cf2\super [149]} ”
But you must be careful to obey me.” This message is from the Lord. “You must not bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath. You must make the Sabbath day a holy day. You will do this by not doing any work on that day.
“Don’t ever forget the Lord your God. Don’t ever follow other gods! Don’t worship and serve them. If you do that, then I warn you today: You will surely be destroyed!
“There are six days for working. But the seventh day will be a very special day of rest for you. You will honor the Lord by resting on that special day. Any person who works on the seventh day must be killed.
You warned them.\par You told them to come back.\par But they were too proud.\par They refused to listen to your commands.\par If people obey your laws,\par then they will truly live!\par But our ancestors {\cf2\super [57]} broke your laws.\par They were stubborn.\par They turned their backs on you.\par They refused to listen.\par
None of you should do wrong to your brother \{in Christ\} or cheat him in this way. The Lord will punish people that do those things. We have already told you and warned you about that.
There were some men from the city of Tyre living in Jerusalem. Those men were bringing fish and all kinds of things into Jerusalem and selling them on the Sabbath {\cf2\super [86]} day. And the Jews were buying those things.
You businessmen say,\par “When will the New Moon {\cf2\super [101]} be over\par so we can sell grain?\par When will the Sabbath be over\par so we can bring our wheat \{to sell\}?\par We can raise the price\par and make the measure smaller. {\cf2\super [102]} \par We can adjust the scales\par and cheat the people. {\cf2\super [103]} \par
The people of Israel must remember the Sabbath and make it a special day. They must continue to do this forever. It is an agreement between them and me that will continue forever.
“We will accept the responsibility for obeying the commands to take care of God’s temple. {\cf2\super [61]} We will give 1/3 shekel {\cf2\super [62]} \{of silver\} each year to support the temple service to honor our God.