11. Sometimes a bird will hatch an egg that it did not lay.That bird is like the man who gets rich by cheating.When that man’s life is half finished, he will lose his riches.At the end of his life, it will be clear he was a fool.
12. From the beginning, our Temple has been honoredas a glorious throne for God.
13. Lord, you are the hope of Israel.Those who leave you will be shamed.A person who quits following the Lord will be like a name written in the dust.That is because he has left the Lord.The Lord is the spring of living water.
14. Lord, heal me, and I will truly be healed.Save me, and I will truly be saved.Lord, you are the one I praise.
15. The people of Judah keep asking me,“Where is the word from the Lord?Let’s see that message come true!”
16. Lord, I didn’t run away from being the shepherd you wanted.I didn’t want the terrible day to come.You know everything I have said.You see all that is happening.
17. Lord, don’t bring terror to me.I run to you for safety in times of trouble.
18. Make those who are hurting me be ashamed.But don’t bring shame to me.Let them be terrified,but keep me from terror.Bring the day of disaster on my enemies.Destroy them, and destroy them again.
19. This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the People’s Gate of Jerusalem. This is where the kings of Judah go in and out. And then go to all the other gates of Jerusalem.
20. Say to them there: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Listen, kings of Judah. Listen, all you people of Judah and all who come through these gates into Jerusalem!
21. This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day. And don’t bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath.
22. Don’t take a load out of your houses on the Sabbath. Don’t do any work on that day. Keep the Sabbath as a holy day. I gave this same command to your ancestors.
23. But your ancestors did not listen. They did not pay attention to me. They were very stubborn. I punished them, but it didn’t do any good. They did not listen to me.
24. But you must be careful to obey me, says the Lord. You must not bring a load through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath. You must keep the Sabbath as a holy day. You must not do any work on that day.