The sonsof Israeldid not strikethem becausethe leadersof the congregationhad swornto them by the LORDthe Godof Israel.And the wholecongregationgrumbledagainstthe leaders.
But the kingsparedMephibosheth,the sonof Jonathanthe sonof Saul,becauseof the oathof the LORDwhichwas betweenthem, betweenDavidand Saul'ssonJonathan.
In whose eyesa reprobateis despised,But who honorsthose who fearthe LORD;He swearsto his own hurtand does not change;
Do not be hastyin wordor impulsivein thoughtto bringup a matterin the presenceof God.For Godis in heavenand you are on the earth;thereforelet your wordsbe few.
Do not letyour speechcause you to sinand do not sayin the presenceof the messenger[of God] that it was a mistake.Whyshould Godbe angryon accountof your voiceand destroythe workof your hands?
It is the samefor all.There is onefatefor the righteousand for the wicked;for the good,for the cleanand for the unclean;for the man who offersa sacrificeand for the one whodoes not sacrifice.As the goodmanis, so is the sinner;as the sweareris, so is the one who is afraidto swear.
"Also ifa womanmakesa vowto the LORD,and bindsherself by an obligationin her father'shousein her youth,
"However, ifyou refrainfrom vowing,it would not be sinin you.
"You shall be carefulto performwhatgoesout from your lips,justas you have voluntarilyvowedto the LORDyour God,whatyou have promised.
"Whenyou enteryour neighbor'svineyard,then you may eatgrapesuntil you are fullysatisfied,but you shall not putany in your basket.
Then the sonsof Israelsetout and cameto their citieson the thirdday.Now their cities[were] Gibeonand Chephirahand Beerothand Kiriath-jearim.
But allthe leaderssaidto the wholecongregation,"We have swornto them by the LORD,the Godof Israel,and nowwe cannottouchthem.
