Thou Shalt Not Steal

"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL"

by HELEN STEINER RICE



WE GLANCE AT THE COMMANDMENTS AND READ THEM THROUGH,
AND THEN UNTHINKINGLY WE SAY, "THESE THINGS WE NEVER DO,"
BUT TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
"
CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY AND TRUTHFULLY FEEL
THAT IN SOME SMALL, UNIMPORTANT WAY
YOU DON'T STEAL A LITTLE EVERY DAY?
YOU PILFER TIME WHEN YOU SHOULD BE WORKING
AND LOOK FOR EXCUSES TO CAMOUFLAGE SHIRKING,
YOU COVET THINGS THAT YOUR NEIGHBOR OWNS
AND SECRETLY ENVY HIS LUCK UNBEKNOWNST,
AND THEN IN YOUR MANY UNTHINKING WAYS
YOU ROB GOD OF REVERENCE EVERY DAY,
AND THEN YOU BOAST AND PROUDLY SAY,
"HERE'S ONE COMMANDMENT THAT I OBEY,"
WHEN IN SOME VEILED AND HIDDEN WAY
YOU BREAK THIS COMMANDMENT MOST EVERY DAY.






"NOW THEREFORE AMEND YOUR WAYS AND YOUR DOINGS,
AND OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND THE
LORD WILL REPENT OF THE EVIL WHICH HE HAS
PRONOUNCED AGAINST YOU.
"



JEREMIAH 26:13








FOR YOUR UNFAILING LOVE IS AS HIGH
AS THE HEAVENS.

YOUR FAITHFULNESS REACHES TO THE CLOUDS.




PSALM 57:10
NLT



I HAVE NOT HIDDEN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
WITHIN MY HEART;
I HAVE DECLARED YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND
YOUR SALVATION;
I HAVE NOT CONCEALED YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS AND
YOUR TRUTH
FROM THE GREAT ASSEMBLY.




PSALM 40:10
NKJV



MY GOD IN HIS LOVINGKINDNESS
WILL MEET ME;
GOD WILL LET ME LOOK
TRIUMPHANTLY UPON MY FOES.




PSALM 59:10
NAS



BUT I TRUST IN YOUR UNFAILING LOVE;
MY HEART REJOICES IN YOUR SALVATION.




PSALM 13:5
NIV



FOR YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS IS BEFORE MY EYES,
AND I HAVE WALKED IN YOUR TRUTH.




PSALM 26:3
NKJV



HIS ANGER LASTS ONLY A MOMENT,
BUT HIS KINDNESS LASTS FOR A LIFETIME.

CRYING MAY LAST FOR A NIGHT,
BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.




PSALM 30:5
NCV



YOUR KINDNESS AND LOVE ARE AS VAST
AS THE HEAVENS.
YOUR FAITHFULNESS
IS HIGHER THAN THE SKIES.




PSALM 57:10