DO NOT HARDENYOUR HEARTSAS WHENTHEY PROVOKEDME, AS IN THE DAYOF TRIALIN THE WILDERNESS,
How blessedis the manwho fearsalways,But he who hardenshis heartwill fallinto calamity.
He namedthe placeMassahand Meribahbecauseof the quarrelof the sonsof Israel,and becausethey testedthe LORD,saying,"Is the LORDamongus, ornot?"
"But whenhis heartwas liftedup and his spiritbecameso proudthat he behavedarrogantly,he was deposedfrom his royalthroneand [his] glorywas takenawayfrom him.
"Yet they did not listento Me or inclinetheir ear,but stiffenedtheir neck;they did moreevilthantheir fathers.
Yet they temptedand rebelledagainstthe MostHighGodAnd did not keepHis testimonies,
And in their heartthey putGodto the testBy askingfoodaccording to their desire.
FOR THE HEARTOF THISPEOPLEHAS BECOME DULL,WITH THEIR EARSTHEY SCARCELYHEAR,AND THEY HAVE CLOSEDTHEIR EYES,OTHERWISETHEY WOULD SEEWITH THEIR EYES,HEARWITH THEIR EARS,AND UNDERSTANDWITH THEIR HEARTAND RETURN,AND I WOULD HEALTHEM.'
A manwho hardens[his] neckafter much reproofWill suddenlybe brokenbeyondremedy.
"Wisein heartand mightyin strength,Whohas defiedHim withoutharm?
But when Pharaohsawthat there was relief,he hardenedhis heartand did not listento them, as the LORDhad said.
But cravedintenselyin the wilderness,And temptedGodin the desert.
He alsorebelledagainst KingNebuchadnezzarwhohad made him swear[allegiance] by God.But he stiffenedhis neckand hardenedhis heartagainstturningto the LORDGodof Israel.
"You shall not putthe LORDyour Godto the test,as you tested[Him] at Massah.
Norlet us trythe Lord,as someof them did,and were destroyedby the serpents.
But whensomewere becoming hardenedand disobedient,speaking evilof the Waybeforethe people,he withdrewfrom them and took awaythe disciples,reasoningdailyin the schoolof Tyrannus.
"But they, our fathers,actedarrogantly;They becamestubbornand would not listento Your commandments.
"Whythen do you hardenyour heartsas the Egyptiansand Pharaohhardenedtheir hearts?WhenHe had severelydealtwith them, did they not allow the people to go,and they departed?
The LORDsaidto Moses,"Howlongwill thispeoplespurnMe? And howlongwill they not believein Me, despite allthe signswhichI have performedin their midst?
"Nowdo not stiffenyour necklike your fathers,but yieldto the LORDand enterHis sanctuarywhichHe has consecratedforever,and servethe LORDyour God,that His burningangermay turnawayfrom you.
However, they did not listen,but stiffenedtheir necklike their fathers,whodid not believein the LORDtheir God.
Do not hardenyour hearts,as at Meribah,As in the dayof Massahin the wilderness,
"This manledthem out, performingwondersand signsin the landof Egyptand in the RedSeaand in the wildernessfor fortyyears.
