They will never enter the land which I promised to their ancestors. None of those who have rejected me will ever enter it.

Now give them this answer: 'I swear that as surely as I live, I will do to you just what you have asked. I, the LORD, have spoken.

I promised to let you live there, but not one of you will, except Caleb and Joshua.

"The LORD heard your complaints and became angry, and so he solemnly declared,

'Not one of you from this evil generation will enter the fertile land that I promised to give your ancestors.

I was angry and made a solemn promise: 'They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!' "

When God made his solemn promise, "They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest"---of whom was he speaking? Of those who rebelled.

We who believe, then, do receive that rest which God promised. It is just as he said, "I was angry and made a solemn promise: 'They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest!' " He said this even though his work had been finished from the time he created the world.

This same matter is spoken of again: "They will never enter that land where I would have given them rest."

By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working.

He blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day, because by that day he had completed his creation and stopped working.

The LORD said to his people, "Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace." But they said, "No, we will not!"

"Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.

The LORD says, "Let no one accuse the people or reprimand them---my complaint is against you priests.

My people are doomed because they do not acknowledge me. You priests have refused to acknowledge me and have rejected my teaching, and so I reject you and will not acknowledge your sons as my priests.

You grow rich from the sins of my people, and so you want them to sin more and more.

You will eat your share of the sacrifices, but still be hungry. You will worship the fertility gods, but still have no children, because you have turned away from me to follow other gods."

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Happy are those who from now on die in the service of the Lord!" "Yes indeed!" answers the Spirit. "They will enjoy rest from their hard work, because the results of their service go with them."