Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

19 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and stand at the Gate of the People,c through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem.w 20 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalemx who come through these gates.y 21 This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbathz day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.a 23 Yet they did not listen or pay attention;b they were stiff-neckedc and would not listen or respond to discipline.d 24 But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holye by not doing any work on it, 25 then kings who sit on David’s thronef will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.g 26 People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev,h bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord. 27 But if you do not obeyi me to keep the Sabbathj day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable firek in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.’ ”l