Dual Panel1The sin <02403> of Judah <03063> is engraved <03789> with an iron <01270> chisel <05842> on their stone-hard <03871> hearts <03820>. It is inscribed <02790> with a diamond <08068> point <06856> on <05921> the horns <07161> of their altars <04196>.
2Their children <01121> are always thinking about <02142> their altars <04196> and their sacred poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah <0842>, set up beside <05921> the green <07488> trees <06086> on <05921> the high <01364> hills <01389>
3and on the mountains <02042> and in the fields <07704>. I will give your wealth <02428> and all <03605> your treasures <0214> away as plunder <0957>. I will give <05414> it away as the price <01116> for the sins <02403> you have committed throughout <03605> your land <01366>.
4You will lose your hold <08058> on the land <05159> which <0834> I gave <05414> to you as a permanent possession. I will make you serve <05647> your enemies <0341> in a land <0776> that <0834> you know <03045> nothing <03808> about. For <03588> you have made my anger <0639> burn <06919> like a fire <0784> that will never be put out <03344> <05769> <05704>.”
5The Lord <03068> says <0559>, “I will put a curse <0779> on people <01397> who <0834> trust <0982> in mere human beings <0120>, who depend on <07760> mere flesh and blood <01320> for their strength <02220>, and whose hearts <03820> have turned away <05493> from <04480> the Lord <03068>.
6They will be <01961> like a shrub <06176> in the desert <06160>. They will not <03808> experience <07200> good things <02896> even when they happen <0935>. It will be as though they were growing <07931> in the desert <04057>, in a salt <04420> land <0776> where no one <03808> can live <03427>.
7My blessing <01288> is on those people <01397> who <0834> trust <0982> in me <03068>, who put <01961> their confidence <04009> in me <03068>.
8They will be <01961> like a tree <06086> planted <08362> near <05921> a stream <04325> whose roots <08328> spread out <07971> toward <05921> the water <03105>. It has nothing <03808> to fear <03372> when <03588> the heat <02527> comes <0935>. Its leaves <05929> are always green <07488>. It has no <03808> need to be concerned <01672> in a year <08141> of drought <01226>. It does not <03808> stop <04185> bearing <06213> fruit <06529>.
9The human mind <03820> is more deceitful <06121> than anything else <03605>. It is incurably <0605> bad. Who <04310> can understand <03045> it?
10I <0589>, the Lord <03068>, probe <02713> into people’s minds <03820>. I examine <0974> people’s hearts <03629>. I deal with each person <0376> according to how he has behaved <01870>. I give <05414> them what they deserve <06529> based on what they have done <04611>.
11The person who gathers <06213> wealth <06239> by unjust <04941> <03808> means is like the partridge <07124> that broods over eggs <01716> but does not <03808> hatch <03205> them. Before his life <03117> is half <02677> over he will lose <05800> his ill-gotten gains. At the end <0319> of his life it will be <01961> clear he was a fool <05036>.”
12Then I said, “Lord, from the very beginning <07223> you have been seated on your glorious <03519> throne <03678> on high <04791>. You are the place <04725> where we can find refuge <04720>.
13You are the one in whom Israel <03478> may find hope <04723>. All <03605> who leave <05800> you will suffer shame <0954>. Those who turn away <03249> from you will be consigned <03789> to the nether world <0776>. For <03588> they have rejected <05800> you, the Lord <03068>, the fountain <04726> of life <02416> <04325>.
14Lord <03068>, grant <07495> me relief <07495> from my suffering so that I may have some relief <07495>. Rescue <03467> me from those who persecute me so that <03588> I may be rescued <03467>.
15Listen to <02009> what they <01992> are saying <0559> to <0413> me. They are saying, “Where <0346> are the things <01697> the Lord <03068> threatens us with? Come <0935> on! Let’s see them happen!”
16But I <0589> have not <03808> pestered <0213> you to bring <0310> disaster <07462>. I have not <03808> desired <0183> the time <03117> of irreparable devastation <0605>. You <0859> know <03045> that. You are fully aware of every word <08193> that I have spoken <06440> <05227> <04161>.
17Do not <0408> cause <01961> me dismay <04288>! You <0859> are my source of safety <04268> in times <03117> of trouble <07451>.
18May those who persecute <07291> me be disgraced <0954>. Do not <0408> let me <0589> be disgraced <0954>. May they <01992> be dismayed <02865>. Do not <0408> let me <0589> be dismayed <02865>. Bring <0935> days <03117> of disaster <07451> on them. Bring on them the destruction <07670> they deserve.”
19The Lord <03068> told <0559> me, “Go <01980> and stand <05975> in the People’s <05971> <01121> Gate <08179> through which <0834> the kings <04428> of Judah <03063> enter <0935> and leave <03318> the city. Then go and stand in all <03605> the other gates <08179> of the city of Jerusalem <03389>.
20As you stand in those places announce <0559>, ‘Listen, all you people who pass through <0935> these <0428> gates <08179>. Listen, all you kings <04428> of Judah <03063>, all <03605> you people of Judah <03063> and all <03605> you citizens <03427> of Jerusalem <03389>. Listen <08085> to what <01697> the Lord <03068> says.
21The Lord <03068> says <0559>, ‘Be very careful <08104> if you value your lives <05315>! Do not <0408> carry <05375> any loads <04853> in through <0935> the gates <08179> of Jerusalem <03389> on the Sabbath <07676> day <03117>.
22Do not <03808> carry <03318> any loads <04853> out <03318> of your houses <01004> or <03808> do <06213> any <03605> work <04399> on the Sabbath <07676> day <03117>. But observe <06942> the Sabbath <07676> day <03117> as a day set apart <06942> to the Lord, as <0834> I commanded <06680> your ancestors <01>.
23Your ancestors, however, did not <03808> listen <08085> to me or pay <0241> <05186> any attention <0241> <05186> to me. They stubbornly refused <06203> <07185> to pay attention <08085> or to respond <03947> to any discipline <04148>.’
24The Lord <03068> says <05002>, ‘You must make sure to <0413> obey <08085> me. You must not <01115> bring <0935> any loads <04853> through the gates <08179> of this <02063> city <05892> on the Sabbath <07676> day <03117>. You must set the Sabbath <07676> day <03117> apart <06942> to me. You must not <01115> do <06213> any <03605> work <04399> on that day.
25If you do this <02063>, then the kings <04428> and princes <08269> who follow <03427> in <05921> David’s <01732> succession <03678> and ride <07392> in chariots <07393> or on horses <05483> will continue to enter <0935> through these gates <08179>, as well as their <01992> officials <08269> and the people <0376> of Judah <03063> and the citizens <03427> of Jerusalem <03389>. This <02063> city <05892> will always <05769> be filled <03427> with people.
26Then people will come <0935> here from the towns <05892> in Judah <03063>, from the villages surrounding <05439> Jerusalem <03389>, from the territory <0776> of Benjamin <01144>, from <04480> the western foothills <08219>, from <04480> the southern hill country <02022>, and from <04480> the southern <05045> part of Judah. They will come <0935> bringing <0935> offerings to the temple <01004> of the Lord <03068>: burnt offerings <05930>, sacrifices <02077>, grain offerings <04503>, and incense <03828> along with their thank offerings <08426>.
27But you <0518> must <03808> obey <08085> me and set <06942> the <0853> Sabbath <07676> day <03117> apart <06942> to me. You must not <01115> carry <05375> any loads <04853> in through the gates <08179> of Jerusalem <03389> on the Sabbath <07676> day <03117>. If you disobey, I will set <03341> the gates <08179> of Jerusalem on fire <0784>. It will burn down <0398> all the fortified dwellings <0759> in Jerusalem <03389> and no one <03808> will be able to put it out <03518>.’”