The LORD will once again be merciful to his people Israel and choose them as his own. He will let them live in their own land again, and foreigners will come and live there with them.

When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts.

Some men joined him and believed, among whom was Dionysius, a member of the council; there was also a woman named Damaris, and some other people.

Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.

The leaders replied, "We'll do as you say. We'll give the property back and not try to collect the debts." I called in the priests and made the leaders swear in front of them to keep the promise they had just made.

Then I took off the sash I was wearing around my waist and shook it out. "This is how God will shake any of you who don't keep your promise," I said. "God will take away your houses and everything you own, and will leave you with nothing." Everyone who was present said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. And the leaders kept their promise.

I reprimanded the men, called down curses on them, beat them, and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath in God's name that never again would they or their children intermarry with foreigners.

" 'God's curse on anyone who makes an idol of stone, wood, or metal and secretly worships it; the LORD hates idolatry.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

" 'God's curse on anyone who moves a neighbor's property line.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

" 'God's curse on anyone who deprives foreigners, orphans, and widows of their rights.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

" 'God's curse on anyone who has sexual relations with an animal.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

" 'God's curse on anyone who has intercourse with his mother-in-law.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

" 'God's curse on anyone who accepts money to murder an innocent person.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

You are here today to enter into this covenant that the LORD your God is making with you and to accept its obligations,

You are not the only ones with whom the LORD is making this covenant with its obligations.

Anyone, young or old, male or female, who did not worship him was to be put to death.

In a loud voice they took an oath in the LORD's name that they would keep the covenant, and then they shouted and blew trumpets.

I will keep my solemn promise to obey your just instructions.

The next morning some Jews met together and made a plan. They took a vow that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

Then they went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn vow together not to eat a thing until we have killed Paul.

But Jehu did not obey with all his heart the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel; instead, he followed the example of Jeroboam, who led Israel into sin.

He stood by the royal column and made a covenant with the LORD to obey him, to keep his laws and commands with all his heart and soul, and to put into practice the demands attached to the covenant, as written in the book. And all the people promised to keep the covenant.

Now, LORD God of Israel, keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided that they carefully obeyed your Law just as he did.

He stood by the royal column and made a covenant with the LORD to obey him, to keep his laws and commands with all his heart and soul, and to put into practice the demands attached to the covenant, as written in the book.

The LORD told me to say to the people, "I, the LORD, have said that you must obey me by following the teaching that I gave you,

We obey the Law that Moses gave us, our nation's most treasured possession.

"Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the laws and commands which I gave him at Mount Sinai for all the people of Israel to obey.

God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Moses gave you the Law, didn't he? But not one of you obeys the Law. Why are you trying to kill me?"

Moses called together all the people of Israel and said to them, "People of Israel, listen to all the laws that I am giving you today. Learn them and be sure that you obey them.

"People of Israel, be sure that you do everything that the LORD your God has commanded you. Do not disobey any of his laws.

so that his people would obey his laws and keep all his commands. Praise the LORD!

I will put my spirit in you and will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you.

And you are my friends if you do what I command you.

For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.

as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear.

O LORD,our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Your praise reaches up to the heavens;

O LORD, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world!