14. Lord, heal me, and I will truly be healed.Save me, and I will truly be saved.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. Don’t be a 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, 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, kings of Judah, all you people of Judah, and all who live in Jerusalem, who come through these gates into the city.
21. This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.
22. Don’t take a load out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work on that day. But keep the Sabbath as a holy day, as I commanded your ancestors.
23. But your ancestors did not listen or pay attention to me. They were very stubborn and did not listen. I punished them, but it didn’t do any good.
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, but you must keep the Sabbath as a holy day and not do any work on that day.
25. “ ‘If you obey this command, kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of Jerusalem with their officers. They will come riding in chariots and on horses, along with the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And the city of Jerusalem will have people living in it forever.