We also placedourselves underobligationto contributeyearlyone thirdof a shekelfor the serviceof the houseof our God:
"Thisstone,whichI have setup as a pillar,will be God'shouse,and of allthat You giveme I will surelygivea tenthto You."
They dedicatedpart of the spoilwon in battlesto repairthe houseof the LORD.
In thosedaysI sawin Judahsome who were treadingwinepresseson the sabbath,and bringingin sacksof grainand loading[them] on donkeys,as wellas wine,grapes,figsand allkinds of loads,and they brought[them] into Jerusalemon the sabbathday.So I admonished[them] on the daythey soldfood.
"Did not your fathersdothe same,so that our Godbroughton us and on thiscityallthistrouble?Yet you are addingto the wrathon Israelby profaningthe sabbath."
Then I warnedthem and saidto them, "Whydo you spendthe nightin frontof the wall?Ifyou doso again,I will useforceagainst you." From that timeon they did not comeon the sabbath.
"And likewiseI, my brothersand my servantsare lendingthem moneyand grain.Please,let us leaveoff thisusury.
"So You madeknownto them Your holysabbath,And laiddownfor them commandments,statutesand law,ThroughYour servantMoses.
but [on] the seventhyearyou shall letit restand liefallow,so that the needyof your peoplemay eat;and whatever they leavethe beastof the fieldmay eat.You are to dothe samewith your vineyard[and] your olivegrove.
Honorthe LORDfrom your wealthAnd from the firstof allyour produce;
For ifthe readinessis present,it is acceptableaccordingto what [a person] has,not accordingto what he does not have.
