but instead, as a sign for our people and yours, and for the generations after us, that we do indeed worship the LORD before his sacred Tent with our offerings to be burned and with sacrifices and fellowship offerings. This was to keep your descendants from saying that ours have nothing to do with the LORD.

It was our idea that, if this should ever happen, our descendants could say, 'Look! Our ancestors made an altar just like the LORD's altar. It was not for burning offerings or for sacrifice, but as a sign for our people and yours.'

The people of Reuben and Gad said, "This altar is a witness to all of us that the LORD is God." And so they named it "Witness."

I am ready to make an agreement with you. Let us make a pile of stones to remind us of our agreement."

He told his men to gather some rocks and pile them up. Then they ate a meal beside the pile of rocks.

Laban said to Jacob, "This pile of rocks will be a reminder for both of us." That is why that place was named Galeed.

Laban went on, "If you mistreat my daughters or if you marry other women, even though I don't know about it, remember that God is watching us.

Both this pile and this memorial stone are reminders. I will never go beyond this pile to attack you, and you must never go beyond it or beyond this memorial stone to attack me.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that, if you disobey me, you will soon disappear from the land. You will not live very long in the land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. You will be completely destroyed.

I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.

"Now, write down this song. Teach it to the people of Israel, so that it will stand as evidence against them.

and many terrible disasters will come on them. But this song will still be sung, and it will stand as evidence against them. Even now, before I take them into the land that I promised to give them, I know what they are thinking."

"Take this book of God's Law and place it beside the Covenant Box of the LORD your God, so that it will remain there as a witness against his people.

Then Samuel took a stone, set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and said, "The LORD has helped us all the way"---and he named it "Stone of Help."

"Earth and sky, hear my words, listen closely to what I say.

The LORD said, "Earth and sky, listen to what I am saying! The children I brought up have rebelled against me.

Even the stones of the walls cry out against you, and the rafters echo the cry.

Jesus answered, "I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting."

Because I fear God's punishment, I could never do such a thing.

If I have more, I might say that I do not need you. But if I am poor, I might steal and bring disgrace on my God.

But those who reject me publicly, I will reject before my Father in heaven.

If we continue to endure, we shall also rule with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

If we are not faithful, he remains faithful, because he cannot be false to himself."

They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good.

I know what you do; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close.