“‘You must not steal, you must not tell lies, and you must not deal falsely with your fellow citizen.

“‘You must not eat anything with the blood still in it. You must not practice either divination or soothsaying.

I have no ease, I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil has come upon me.”

He will not cry out or shout; he will not publicize himself in the streets.

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made?

Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish.

He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry.

You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,

You must not give in to him or even listen to him; do not feel sympathy for him or spare him or cover up for him.

Priests must not have a bald spot shaved on their head, they must not shave the corner of their beard, and they must not cut slashes in their body.

You must not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,

They replied, “You have not wronged us or oppressed us. You have not taken anything from the hand of anyone.”

The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.”

While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will die!

For a long time Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law.

For forty years you sustained them. Even in the desert they never lacked anything. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.

He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

hands, but cannot touch, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot even clear their throats.

For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.