Chapter 20
2. The word of יהוה came to me, saying,
3. Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord יהוה : Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord יהוה , I will not be inquired of by you.
4. Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
5. and tell them, Thus says the Lord יהוה : In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am יהוה your God;
6. in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
7. I said to them, Cast you away every man the abominations of his eyes, and don't defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am יהוה your God.
8. But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9. But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10. So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11. I gave them my statutes, and shown them my ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.
12. Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am יהוה who sanctifies them.
13. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn't walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14. But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
15. Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
16. because they rejected my ordinances, and didn't walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
17. Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn't destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18. I said to their children in the wilderness, Don't you walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
19. I am יהוה your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;
20. and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am יהוה your God.
Etz Chaim
It is a tree of life for those who cling to it,
and those who uphold it are happy.
Its ways are pleasant and all of its paths peaceful.
Return us to You, Lord, so that we shall return,
Renew our days, as of old.
