9. The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it?
10. I, Yahweh, examine the mind,I test the heart to give to each according to his way,according to what his actions deserve.
11. He who makes a fortune unjustlyis like a partridge that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.In the middle of his dayshis riches will abandon him,so in the end he will be a fool.
12. A throne of glory on high from the beginningis the place of our sanctuary.
13. Lord, the hope of Israel, all who abandon Youwill be put to shame.All who turn away from Mewill be written in the dirt,for they have abandonedthe Lord, the fountain of living water.
14. Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;save me, and I will be saved,for You are my praise.
15. Hear how they keep challenging me, “Where is the word of the Lord?Let it come! ”
16. But I have not run away from being Your shepherd,and I have not longed for the fatal day. You know my words were spoken in Your presence.
17. Don’t become a terror to me.You are my refuge in the day of disaster.
18. Let my persecutors be put to shame, but don’t let me be put to shame.Let them be terrified, but don’t let me be terrified.Bring on them the day of disaster; shatter them with total destruction.
19. This is what the Lord said to me, “Go and stand at the People’s Gate, through which the kings of Judah enter and leave, as well as at all the gates of Jerusalem.
20. Announce to them: Hear the word of the Lord, kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the residents of Jerusalem who enter through these gates.
21. This is what the Lord says: Watch yourselves; do not pick up a load and bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
22. You must not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day or do any work, but you must consecrate the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors.
23. They wouldn’t listen or pay attention but became obstinate, not listening or accepting discipline.
24. “However, if you listen to Me, says the Lord, and do not bring loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day and consecrate the Sabbath day and do no work on it,
25. kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses with their officials, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem. This city will be inhabited forever.