At work with God – Day 5

_13-14“Do not cheat when you use weights and measures. ₁₅Use true and honest weights and measures, so that you may live a long time in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. ₁₆The LORD hates people who cheat.

₁The LORD hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights.

₁₈Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded.

₁₉Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.

₃₅“Do not cheat anyone by using false measures of length, weight, or quantity. ₃₆Use honest scales, honest weights, and honest measures. I am the LORD your God, and I brought you out of Egypt. ₃₇Obey all my laws and commands. I am the LORD.”

₄Listen to this, you that trample on the needy and try to destroy the poor of the country. ₅You say to yourselves, “We can hardly wait for the holy days to be over so that we can sell our corn. When will the Sabbath end, so that we can start selling again? Then we can overcharge, use false measures, and tamper with the scales to cheat our customers. ₆We can sell worthless wheat at a high price. We'll find a poor person who can't pay his debts, not even the price of a pair of sandals, and we'll buy him as a slave.”

₇The LORD, the God of Israel, has sworn, “I will never forget their evil deeds.

₉It is wise to fear the LORD. He calls to the city, “Listen, you people who assemble in the city! ₁₀In the houses of evil people are treasures which they got dishonestly. They use false measures, a thing that I hate. ₁₁How can I forgive those who use false scales and weights? ₁₂Your rich people exploit the poor, and all of you are liars. ₁₃So I have already begun your ruin and destruction because of your sins. ₁₄You will eat, but not be satisfied — in fact you will still be hungry. You will carry things off, but you will not be able to save them; anything you do save I will destroy in war.