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.
As for the peoplesof the landwho bringwaresor anygrainon the sabbathdayto sell,we will not buyfrom them on the sabbathor a holyday;and we will forego[the crops] the seventhyearand the exactionof everydebt.
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.
"You shall worksixdays,but on the seventhdayyou shall rest;[even] during plowingtimeand harvestyou shall rest.
"Ifbecauseof the sabbath,you turnyour footFrom doingyour [own] pleasureon My holyday,And callthe sabbatha delight,the holy[day] of the LORDhonorable,And honorit, desistingfrom your [own] ways,From seekingyour [own] pleasureAnd speaking[your own] word,
"But the houseof Israelrebelledagainst Me in the wilderness.They did not walkin My statutesand they rejectedMy ordinances,by which,if a manobservesthem, he will live;and My sabbathsthey greatlyprofaned.Then I resolvedto pourout My wrathon them in the wilderness,to annihilatethem.
"But ifyou do not listento Me to keepthe sabbathdayholyby not carryinga loadand comingin through the gatesof Jerusalemon the sabbathday,then I will kindlea firein its gatesand it will devourthe palacesof Jerusalemand not be quenched."'"
"But it will comeabout, ifyou listenattentivelyto Me," declaresthe LORD,"to bringnoloadin through the gatesof thiscityon the sabbathday,but to keepthe sabbathdayholyby doingnoworkon it,
"It shall comeabout ifyou everforgetthe LORDyour Godand goafterothergodsand servethem and worshipthem, I testifyagainst you todaythat you will surelyperish.
"For sixdaysworkmay be done,but on the seventhdayyou shall havea holy[day], a sabbathof completerestto the LORD;whoeverdoesany workon it shall be putto death.
And admonishedthem in order to turnthem backto Your law.Yet they actedarrogantlyand did not listento Your commandmentsbut sinnedagainst Your ordinances,By whichif a manobservesthem he shall live.And they turneda stubbornshoulderand stiffenedtheir neck,and would not listen.
[and] that noman transgressand defraudhis brotherin the matterbecausethe Lordis [the] avengerin allthese things,justas we alsotold you beforeand solemnly warned[you].
SothisI say,and affirmtogetherwith the Lord,that you walkno longerjustas the Gentilesalsowalk,in the futilityof their mind,
And I testifyagainto everymanwho receives circumcision,that he is under obligationto keepthe wholeLaw.
solemnly testifyingto bothJewsand Greeksof repentancetowardGodand faithin our LordJesusChrist.
And with manyotherwordshe solemnly testifiedand kept on exhortingthem, saying,"Be savedfrom thisperversegeneration!"
"My people,whathave I doneto you, And howhave I weariedyou? AnswerMe.
The LORDhas spokento you, O remnantof Judah,"Do not gointo Egypt!"You should clearlyunderstandthat todayI have testifiedagainst you.
"Hear,O My people,and I will speak;O Israel,I will testifyagainst you; I am God,your God.
Yet He sentprophetsto them to bringthem backto the LORD;though they testifiedagainst them, they would not listen.
Also menof Tyrewere livingthere [who] importedfishand allkinds of merchandise,and sold[them] to the sonsof Judahon the sabbath,even in Jerusalem.
Those who forsakethe lawpraisethe wicked,But those who keepthe lawstrivewith them.
saying,"Whenwill the newmoonbe over,So that we may sellgrain,And the sabbath,that we may openthe wheat[market], To makethe bushelsmallerand the shekelbigger,And to cheatwith dishonestscales,
The LORDspoketo Moses,saying,
So the sonsof Israelshall observethe sabbath,to celebratethe sabbaththroughout their generationsas a perpetualcovenant.'
We also placedourselves underobligationto contributeyearlyone thirdof a shekelfor the serviceof the houseof our God:
"Will you havefaithin him that he will returnyour grainAnd gather[it from] your threshingfloor?
