Question 60

Is it a profanation of God’s name to use it as an expletive in discourse?

Yes. Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil,^b

Or as a charm?

Yes. As those exorcists who said we adjure you by Jesus,^c

Or as a sanction for cruelty?

Yes. Your brethren that hated you and cast you out, said, Let the Lord be glorified,^d

Is God’s name also profaned by putting a slight upon sacred things?

Yes. Cursed be he that voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing, for I am a great King, saith the Lord, and my name is dreadful,^e

And hypocrisy?

Yes. For unto the wicked God saith, what hast thou to do to declare my statutes,^g

Is this a great sin?

Yes. Their heart is divided, now shall they be found faulty,^h

And a destructive sin?

Yes. The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath,ⁱ

Should we therefore be careful to avoid it?

Yes. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy,^j

And by profane cursing?

Yes. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing, my brethren, these things ought not to be,^l

And by rash swearing?

Yes. Above all things, my brethren, swear not,^m

And by false swearing?

Yes. Ye shall not swear by my name falsely,ⁿ

Is it a sin that brings a curse upon the persons who are guilty of it?

Yes. Will ye steal, murder and swear falsely, therefore I will cast you out of my sight,^p

And upon their families?

Yes. It shall enter into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name,^q

And upon the land?

Yes. Because of swearing the land mourns,^r