מִצְוָה

Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.

I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments.

Trouble and distress have found me, but Your commandments are my delight.

You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true.

I wait for Your salvation, O LORD, and I carry out Your commandments.

My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.

I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

…he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.

Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.

When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

But the people remained silent and did not answer a word, for Hezekiah had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

Then I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy with its terms and conditions, as well as the open copy—

The words of Jonadab son of Rechab have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk it to this very day because they have obeyed the command of their forefather. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you have not obeyed Me!

Yes, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not listened to Me.

Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites: “This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have kept all his commandments and have done all that he charged you to do,

And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

…we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.

“And now this decree is for you, O priests:

Then you will know that I have sent you this commandment so that My covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD of Hosts.