1 Kings 15 Cross References - NSB

¹ In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. ² He ruled three years as king in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. ³ He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did. ⁴ For David's sake Jehovah his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising Abijam a son to rule after him to keep Jerusalem secure. ⁵ Jehovah did this because David had done what was right in Jehovah’s eyes. He obeyed his commandments, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. ⁶ Abijam continued the war that Rehoboam and Jeroboam started. There was war throughout Abijam's lifetime. ⁷ Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. ⁸ Then Abijam went to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the earth in the town of David. Asa his son became king in his place. ⁹ Jeroboam had been king of Israel twenty years. Asa became king of Judah. ¹⁰ He was king for forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. ¹¹ Asa did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as David his father did. ¹² He banished perverted persons from the land. He removed those used for sex purposes in the worship of the gods. He removed all the idols his fathers had made. ¹³ He would not let Maacah his mother be queen, because she had made a disgusting image for Asherah. Asa had the obscene image cut down and burned by the Kidron Stream. ¹⁴ The high places were not taken away. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was true to Jehovah all his life. ¹⁵ He brought into the Temple of Jehovah all the things he and his father made holy, silver and gold and vessels. ¹⁶ There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, through out their reigns. ¹⁷ And Baasha, king of Israel, went up against Judah. He fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or in to Asa the king of Judah. ¹⁸ Then Asa took all the silver and gold still stored in Jehovah’s Temple, and in the king's house, and delivered them, in the care of his servants, to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Rezon, king of Aram, at Damascus. He said: ¹⁹ Let there be an agreement between us just as there was between my father and your father. I have sent you an offering of silver and gold. End your agreement with Baasha, king of Israel that he may give up attacking me. ²⁰ Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent his armies to attack Israel. He conquered Ijon and Dan and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth as far as the land of Naphtali. ²¹ When Baasha heard this he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. ²² Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah. Every man came to carry away the stone and the timber Baasha used to fortify Ramah. King Asa used them for building Geba in the land of Benjamin, and Mizpah. ²³ The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, the extent of his power and the names of the cities he built are all recorded in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. His feet became diseased, as he grew old. ²⁴ So Asa went to rest with his fathers and was buried in the town of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place. ²⁵ Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, became king over Israel in the second year that Asa was king of Judah; and he was king of Israel for two years. ²⁶ He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the evil ways of his father. He made Israel sin so much that they provoked Jehovah to anger with their idols. ²⁷ And Baasha, the son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, made a secret design against him, attacking him at Gibbethon, a town of the Philistines. Nadab and the armies of Israel were making war on Gibbethon. ²⁸ In the third year of the rule of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha put him to death, and became king in his place. ²⁹ When he became king, he sent destruction on all the offspring of Jeroboam. He killed every person of the family of Jeroboam according to the word of Jehovah as stated by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. ³⁰ This happened because Jeroboam aroused the anger of Jehovah, the God of Israel, by the sins he committed and that he caused Israel to commit. ³¹ Everything else that Nadab did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. ³² King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel were constantly at war as long as they reigned. ³³ In the third year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel. He ruled in Tirzah for twenty-four years. ³⁴ Like King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against Jehovah and led Israel into sin.

² »I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing.

¹⁴ Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive. Abram led his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night. He and his servants routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.

² Abram said: »O Jehovah God, what will you give me? I continue childless! The heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.«

²⁹ When God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot was living, he kept Abraham in mind and allowed Lot to escape to safety.

⁹ Then Abimelech called Abraham. He said to him: »What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you? You have brought a great sin on me and on my kingdom. You have done to me things that ought not to be done.«

⁵ »This is because Abraham did everything I told him to do.«

²⁰ He took the bull-calf that they had made, melted it, ground it into fine powder, and mixed it with water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it. ²¹ Moses asked Aaron: »What did these people do to harm you? Why did you make them sin in this terrible way?«

³⁰ »‘I will destroy your worship sites. I will cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on top of your dead idols. I will view you with disgust.

⁵ »Deal with them in this way: Destroy their altars and break down their sacred pillars. Cut down their idols and burn them with fire.

²¹ »I took your sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it. I ground it very small until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that flowed down the mountain.

⁶ »If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your very best friend tries to secretly entice you, saying: ‘Let us go and serve other gods, gods neither you nor your fathers have known, ⁷ »‘the gods of the people who are around you from one end of the earth to the other end.’ ⁸ »Do not yield to him or listen to him. Your eye should not have pity on him. You should not spare or conceal him. ⁹ »You must kill him! Your hand should be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. ¹⁰ »Stone him to death because he has sought to draw you away from Jehovah your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ¹¹ »All Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.

³⁷ »He loved your fathers. Therefore he chose their descendants. In fact he watched over you and he brought you out of Egypt with his mighty power.

³⁵ »Vengeance and retribution belong to me. (Vengeance is mine, I will repay.) Their foot shall slide in time, for the day of their calamity is at hand. The things to come on them come quickly.

⁹ »Who said of his father and mother: ‘I have not seen them; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons. They observed your word and kept your covenant.’

² and to the kings north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,

³ And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and to the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:

²⁴ Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: ²⁵ Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, ²⁶ Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,

²⁴ They burned the city and all its contents. They put the silver, gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron into the treasury of the house of Jehovah.

⁴⁴ Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,

¹⁷ From the territory of Benjamin they were given four cities: Gibeon, Geba,

²³ From the territory of Dan they were given four cities: Eltekeh, Gibbethon,

²⁹ They changed its name from Laish to Dan, after their ancestor Dan, the son of Jacob.

⁵ Samuel called all the Israelites to meet at Mizpah. He told them: »I will pray to Jehovah for you there.«

²⁴ »No, my sons. It is not a good report that I hear. You make Jehovah’s people transgress.

³⁴ Samuel went to Ramah. Saul went up to his house in Gibeah, in the land of Saul.

¹² »‘I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler. ¹³ »‘I will allow no one to take his long lasting kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. ¹⁴ »‘I will be his father. He will be my son. When he does wrong I will correct him just as parents correct children. ¹⁵ »‘I will never put an end to my agreement with him. I put an end to my agreement with Saul when he was king before you. ¹⁶ »‘I will make sure that one of your descendants will be king for a very long time. Your throne will be established from generation to generation.’«

³ He sent a messenger to find out who she was. He learned that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. ⁴ So David sent messengers to get her. She came to him and they had sexual intercourse. She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period. Then she went home.

¹⁵ The letter said: »Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is the worst. Pull the troops back from him, so that he will be wounded and die.« ¹⁶ Joab carefully watched the city of Rabbah. He put Uriah in a place where he knew there were some of the enemy’s best soldiers. ¹⁷ The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of David’s mercenaries fell and died. This included Uriah the Hittite.

⁹ »‘Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife! ¹⁰ »‘In every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriah’s wife.

²³ The people cried loudly as David’s followers left. The king crossed Kidron Brook. His men followed him. They went to the wilderness.

¹⁴ Sheba went through all of the tribes of Israel when he came to the town of Abel Beth-Maacah. His best soldiers met him there and followed him into the town. ¹⁵ Joab and his troops surrounded Abel, so no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp (rampart) up to the town wall. Then they used a battering ram to knock the wall down.

² The Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were left over from the Amorites. The Israelites swore to spare them. Saul, in his eagerness, tried to destroy them for Israel and Judah. The king called the Gibeonites.

¹⁷ Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue. Abishai attacked the giant and killed him. Then David’s men made David promise that he would never again go out with them to battle. »You are the hope of Israel. We do not want to lose you!« They said.

¹⁴ »If you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.«

⁵¹ All the work King Solomon did on Jehovah’s Temple was finished. He brought the holy things that belonged to his father David: the silver, gold, and utensils and put them in the storerooms of Jehovah’s Temple.

⁶¹ »Let your hearts be committed to Jehovah our God. Then you will live by his laws and keep his commands as you have today.«

⁴ »As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father did, uprightly and with a true heart, doing what I have given you orders to do, keeping my laws and my decisions;

⁴ When Solomon was old he allowed his heart to be turned away to other gods by his wives. His heart was no longer true to Jehovah his God as the heart of his father David had been.

⁷ Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. ⁸ He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.

¹² »I will not do it in your lifetime, because of your father David, but I will take it from your son.

²³ God also caused Rezon son of Eliada to turn against Solomon. Rezon had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah, ²⁴ and had become the leader of a gang of outlaws. This happened after David defeated Hadadezer and slaughtered his Syrian allies. Rezon and his gang lived in Damascus, where his followers made him king of Syria.

³² »‘But one tribe will be his because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem. Out of the tribes of Israel he will have the town I have made mine. ³³ »‘I am going to do this because Solomon has rejected me and has worshiped foreign gods. Astarte, the goddess of Sidon; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of Ammon. Solomon disobeyed me. He has done wrong! He has not obeyed my laws and commands as his father David did.

³⁶ »‘I will let Solomon's son keep one tribe. That way I will always have a descendant of my servant David ruling in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as the place where I am worshiped.

²⁷ »They will transfer their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah and will kill me.« ²⁸ After asking for advice, the king made two golden calves. He said: You have been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.

²⁸ After asking for advice, the king made two golden calves. He said: You have been worshiping in Jerusalem long enough. Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt. ²⁹ He placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan.

²⁹ He placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan.

²⁹ He placed one in Bethel and the other in Dan. ³⁰ This became Israel’s sin, worshiping the golden calves. The people went as far as Dan to worship the one calf. ³¹ Jeroboam built worship sites on hilltops. He appointed men who were not descended from Levi to be priests. ³² Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah. He went to the altar in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had made. He appointed priests from the illegal worship sites to serve in Bethel. ³³ He went to his altar in Bethel to burn an offering on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the festival he invented for the Israelites.

³³ King Jeroboam of Israel still did not turn from his evil ways. He continued to choose priests from ordinary families to serve at the altars he had built. He ordained as priest anyone who wanted to be one. ³⁴ This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam. It brought about its ruin and total destruction from the face of the earth.

¹ King Jeroboam's son Abijah became sick.

⁸ »I took the kingdom away from David's descendants and gave it to you. You have not been like my servant David. He was completely loyal to me. He obeyed my commands, and did only what I approve of. ⁹ »You have committed far greater sins than those who ruled before you. You have rejected me and have aroused my anger by making idols and metal images to worship. ¹⁰ »I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. I will kill all your male descendants, young and old alike. I will get rid of your family. They will be swept away like dung. ¹¹ »Dogs will eat members of your family who die in the city. Vultures will eat any who die in the open country. I, Jehovah, have spoken!« ¹² Ahijah went on to say to Jeroboam's wife: »Go back home. As soon as you enter the town, your son will die.

¹² Ahijah went on to say to Jeroboam's wife: »Go back home. As soon as you enter the town, your son will die. ¹³ »All the people of Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He will be the only member of Jeroboam's family who will be properly buried for he is the only one with whom Jehovah, the God of Israel, is pleased. ¹⁴ »Jehovah will place a king over Israel who will put an end to Jeroboam's house.

¹⁴ »Jehovah will place a king over Israel who will put an end to Jeroboam's house. ¹⁵ »Jehovah will punish Israel, and she will shake like a reed shaking in a stream. He will uproot the people of Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they have aroused his anger by making idols of the goddess Asherah. ¹⁶ »Jehovah will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and led the people of Israel into sin.«

¹⁶ »Jehovah will abandon Israel because Jeroboam sinned and led the people of Israel into sin.« ¹⁷ Jeroboam's wife went back to Tirzah. Just as she entered her home, the child died.

¹⁹ Everything else that King Jeroboam did, the wars he fought and how he ruled, are all recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. ²⁰ Jeroboam ruled as king for twenty-two years. He died and was buried. His son Nadab succeeded him as king. ²¹ Solomon's son Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king of Judah. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city Jehovah chose from all the territory of Israel as the place where he was to be worshiped. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah from Ammon. ²² The people of Judah sinned against Jehovah. They did more to arouse his anger against them than all their ancestors had done.

²² The people of Judah sinned against Jehovah. They did more to arouse his anger against them than all their ancestors had done. ²³ They built places of worship for false gods. They put up stone pillars and symbols of Asherah to worship on the hills and under shady trees. ²⁴ There were also male (cult) prostitutes in the temples of idols throughout the land. The people of Judah practiced all the disgusting practices done by the nations that Jehovah forced out of the Israelites' way.

²⁶ He took the treasures from Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace. He took them all. He took all the gold shields Solomon had made.

²⁹ The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

²⁹ The rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything he did are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Judah. ³⁰ There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

³⁰ There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. ³¹ Rehoboam went to rest with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.

³¹ Rehoboam went to rest with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonite woman. And Abijam his son became king in his place.

² He ruled three years as king in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. ³ He was not completely loyal to Jehovah his God as his great-grandfather David had been. He committed the same sins as his father did.

⁶ Abijam continued the war that Rehoboam and Jeroboam started. There was war throughout Abijam's lifetime. ⁷ Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah.

⁷ Everything else that Abijah did is recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah. ⁸ Then Abijam went to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the earth in the town of David. Asa his son became king in his place.

¹⁰ He was king for forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.

¹³ He would not let Maacah his mother be queen, because she had made a disgusting image for Asherah. Asa had the obscene image cut down and burned by the Kidron Stream.

¹⁵ He brought into the Temple of Jehovah all the things he and his father made holy, silver and gold and vessels. ¹⁶ There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, through out their reigns.

¹⁶ There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, through out their reigns. ¹⁷ And Baasha, king of Israel, went up against Judah. He fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or in to Asa the king of Judah.

¹⁷ And Baasha, king of Israel, went up against Judah. He fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or in to Asa the king of Judah.

²¹ When Baasha heard this he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. ²² Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah. Every man came to carry away the stone and the timber Baasha used to fortify Ramah. King Asa used them for building Geba in the land of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

²⁶ He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the evil ways of his father. He made Israel sin so much that they provoked Jehovah to anger with their idols. ²⁷ And Baasha, the son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, made a secret design against him, attacking him at Gibbethon, a town of the Philistines. Nadab and the armies of Israel were making war on Gibbethon.

³⁰ This happened because Jeroboam aroused the anger of Jehovah, the God of Israel, by the sins he committed and that he caused Israel to commit.

³² King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel were constantly at war as long as they reigned.

³⁴ Like King Jeroboam before him, he sinned against Jehovah and led Israel into sin.

⁵ The rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his power, are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

⁷ The word of Jehovah came to the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani. This was a warning against Baasha and his family because of all the evil he did in the eyes of Jehovah. He made Jehovah angry by the work of his hands, because he was like the family of Jeroboam, and because he killed him. ⁸ In the twenty-sixth year that Asa was king of Judah, Elah, the son of Baasha, became king of Israel in Tirzah. He was king for two years. ⁹ His servant Zimri, commander of half his war-carriages made plans to kill him. He was in Tirzah, drinking hard at the house of Arza, controller of the king's house in Tirzah.

¹⁴ The rest of the acts of Elah are recorded in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel. ¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa, king of Judah, Zimri was king for seven days in Tirzah. The people were attacking Gibbethon in the land of the Philistines.

¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa, king of Judah, Zimri was king for seven days in Tirzah. The people were attacking Gibbethon in the land of the Philistines. ¹⁶ The Israelites in the camp heard it said: »Zimri plotted against the king and killed him.« So all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king that day there in the camp. ¹⁷ Then Omri went up from Gibbethon, with all the army of Israel, and they attacked Tirzah, Israel’s capital.

¹⁷ Then Omri went up from Gibbethon, with all the army of Israel, and they attacked Tirzah, Israel’s capital. ¹⁸ Zimri saw that the city had fallen. So he went into the palace's inner fortress and set the palace on fire. He died in the flames. ¹⁹ This happened because of his sins against Jehovah. Like his predecessor Jeroboam, he displeased Jehovah by his own sins and by leading Israel into sin. ²⁰ Everything else that Zimri did, including the account of his conspiracy, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel.

²⁵ Omri did what Jehovah considered evil. He did more evil things than all the kings before him. ²⁶ He lived exactly like Jeroboam, Nebat's son. He sinned and led Israel to sin with worthless idols. The Israelites made Jehovah the God of Israel furious. ²⁷ Everything else about Omri is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.

¹ King Benhadad of Syria mustered his entire army, accompanied by thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots, he laid siege on Samaria, and launched attacks against it. ² He sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel to say: »King Benhadad demands that ³ you surrender to him your silver and gold, your women and the strongest of your children.« ⁴ Tell my lord, King Benhadad, that I agree; he can have everything I own, Ahab answered. ⁵ Later the messengers came back to Ahab with another demand from Benhadad: »I sent you word that you were to hand over to me your silver and gold, your women and your children.«

³³ Now the men took it as a sign, and were quick to pick up on his word. They said: »Benhadad is your brother.« Then he said: »Go and get him.« So Ben-hadad came out to him and he made him get up into his carriage. ³⁴ Benhadad said: »The towns my father took from your father I will give back. You may name streets for yourself in Damascus as my father did in Samaria.« As for me, at the price of this agreement you will let me go. So he made an agreement with him and let him go.

⁴¹ Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of the reign of King Ahab of Israel. ⁴² He was thirty-five years old. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. ⁴³ Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah. However the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁴³ Like his father Asa before him, he did what was right in the sight of Jehovah. However the places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁴⁶ He banished all the male and female prostitutes serving at the pagan altars who were still left from the days of his father Asa.

⁵² He sinned against Jehovah, following the wicked example of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and King Jeroboam, who had led Israel into sin.

³ Like King Jeroboam son of Nebat before him, he caused Israel to sin. He would not turn away from sin.

³⁰ Ahab, the son of Omri, did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, even worse than all who went before him!

²² »Your family will become like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. This is because you have stirred up my anger by leading Israel into sin.

⁷ Elisha went to Damascus when King Benhadad of Syria was sick. The king was told that Elisha was there. ⁸ He said to Hazael, one of his officials: »Take a gift to the prophet and ask him to consult Jehovah to find out whether or not I am going to get well.« ⁹ Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. Hazael said: »Your servant, King Benhadad sent me to ask if he will recover from his sickness.« ¹⁰ Elisha answered: »Jehovah has revealed to me that he will die. However go to him and tell him that he will recover.« ¹¹ Elisha stared at him in horror until Hazael became ill at ease. Suddenly Elisha burst into tears. ¹² »Why are you crying?« Hazael asked. »Because I know the horrible things you will do against the people of Israel,« Elisha answered. »You will burn their fortresses, slaughter their finest young men, batter their children to death, and rip open their pregnant women.« ¹³ »How could I ever be that powerful?« Hazael asked. »I am nobody, only a dog.« Elisha replied: »Jehovah has revealed to me that you will be king of Syria.« ¹⁴ Hazael returned to Benhadad, who asked him: »What did Elisha say?« »He told me that you will certainly get well,« Hazael answered. ¹⁵ The following day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king. Hazael succeeded Benhadad as king of Syria.

⁷ »‘You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. ⁸ »‘The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. ⁹ »‘I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. ¹⁰ »‘Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.’« After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled.

³⁶ So they came back and told him about it. He said: »This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. ³⁷ »‘The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: »This is Jezebel.«’«

¹⁰ »You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah.« ¹¹ Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them.

³¹ But Jehu did not take care to keep the law of Jehovah with all his heart. He did not keep himself from the sin that Jeroboam did and made Israel do.

⁴ He did not take away the high places. The people still continued to make and burn offerings in the high places.

²⁹ In the days of Pekah king of Israel Tiglathpileser king of Assyria captured Ijon and Abelbethmaacah and Janoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee and all the land of Naphtali. He took the people captive to Assyria.

⁴ He removed the high places. He broke the stone pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah poles. The brass snake that Moses had made was crushed to powder at his command, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.

¹⁵ Hezekiah sent him all the silver in the Temple and in the palace treasury. ¹⁶ Hezekiah had the gold from the doors of Jehovah’s Temple and from the doorposts plated by him. He stripped it off and gave it to the king of Assyria.

¹¹ »Manasseh king of Judah committed detestable sins. He did more evil than all the Amorites before him. He enticed Judah to do evil with his false gods.

² He did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah. He walked in the ways of David his father, without turning to the right hand or to the left.

⁶ He removed the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah from the temple. He took it to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem. There he burned it in the Kidron Valley, ground it to dust, and threw its ashes on the tombs of the common people.

¹² The altars the kings of Judah built on the palace roof above King Ahaz' quarters, King Josiah tore down, along with the altars put up by King Manasseh in the two courtyards of the Temple. He smashed the altars to bits and threw them into Kidron Valley. ¹³ The king made the illegal places of worship east of Jerusalem unclean. They were on the southern part of the Hill of Destruction. King Solomon of Israel built them for Astarte the disgusting goddess of the Sidonians. Also made unclean were references to Chemosh the disgusting god of Moab, and Milcom the disgusting god of the Ammonites. ¹⁴ Josiah crushed the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to Asherah. And he filled their places with human bones. ¹⁵ He also tore down the altar at Bethel the place of worship made by Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. He tore down both the altar and the place of worship. They burned the worship site. They crushed it into powder and burned the pole dedicated to Asherah.

¹⁵ He also tore down the altar at Bethel the place of worship made by Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. He tore down both the altar and the place of worship. They burned the worship site. They crushed it into powder and burned the pole dedicated to Asherah.

³ The high places were not taken away. The people continued making offerings and burning them in the high places.

¹⁸ King Jehoash of Judah took all the offerings that his predecessors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah had dedicated to Jehovah, added to them his own offerings and all the gold in the treasuries of the Temple and the palace, and sent them all as a gift to King Hazael, who then led his army away from Jerusalem.

²⁰ His own officials plotted against him and killed him at the House of the Mound on the road that goes down to Silla.

⁴ Still the high places were not taken away. The people continued making offerings and burning them in the high places.

²⁵ »Have you not heard? I did this long ago. I planned it in the past. Now I make it happen so that you will turn fortified cities into piles of rubble.

³ »Jehovah, Please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and truth. And consider my whole heart devoted to you. I have done what is good in your eyes.« Hezekiah wept bitterly.

⁹ All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.

²⁶ Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. ²⁷ Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the Temple of Jehovah. ²⁸ And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

¹³ The priests and Levites in every region of Israel aligned with Rehoboam. ¹⁴ The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his descendants rejected them as Jehovah’s priests. ¹⁵ As an alternative, Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols. ¹⁶ People from every tribe of Israel who were determined to seek Jehovah the true God of Israel followed the Levitical priests to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah God of their ancestors. ¹⁷ So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah by supporting Rehoboam, son of Solomon, for three years. During those three years they lived the way David and Solomon had lived.

²⁰ After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

²⁰ After marrying Mahalath, he married Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter. She gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. ²¹ Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

²¹ Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom’s granddaughter, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. ²² Rehoboam appointed Abijah, son of Maacah, as family head and prince among his brothers. By doing this, Rehoboam could make him king.

¹ Abijah became king of Judah in Jeroboam’s eighteenth year as king of Israel. ² His mother was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. He ruled from Jerusalem for three years when war broke out between Abijah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel.

² His mother was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. He ruled from Jerusalem for three years when war broke out between Abijah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel. ³ Abijah raised an army of four hundred thousand soldiers. Jeroboam opposed him with an army of eight hundred thousand soldiers. ⁴ The armies met in the hill country of Ephraim. King Abijah went up Mount Zemaraim and called out to Jeroboam and the Israelites: »Listen to me!« He shouted. ⁵ »Do you not know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, made an unbreakable covenant with David, giving him and his descendants kingship over Israel from generation to generation? ⁶ »Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against Solomon, his king. ⁷ »Later he organized a group of worthless scoundrels. They forced their will on Rehoboam son of Solomon, who was too young and inexperienced to resist them. ⁸ »Now you plan to fight against the royal authority Jehovah gave to David’s descendants. You have a huge army! You have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. ⁹ »You drove out Jehovah’s priests! You evicted the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. In their place you appointed priests in the same way that other nations do. Anybody who comes along with a bull or seven sheep can get himself consecrated as a priest of those so-called gods of yours. ¹⁰ »We still serve Jehovah our God! We have not abandoned him. Priests descended from Aaron perform their duties, and Levites assist them. ¹¹ »Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him! ¹² »God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call the army to fight you. Men of Israel do not wage war against Jehovah the God of your ancestors. You will not succeed.« ¹³ Jeroboam set an ambush to attack them from behind. So Jeroboam’s army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. ¹⁴ Judah’s soldiers looked around and found the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to Jehovah! The priests blew the trumpets, ¹⁵ The men of Judah shouted! When they shouted God attacked Jeroboam and all Israel in front of Abijah and Judah. ¹⁶ The Israelites fled from Judah’s army. God handed them over to Judah. ¹⁷ Abijah and his men defeated them decisively. Five hundred thousand of the best men of Israel were killed. ¹⁸ The Israelites were humbled at that time. The people of Judah won because they trusted Jehovah God of their ancestors. ¹⁹ Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some of his cities: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages. ²⁰ Jeroboam never regained power during Abijah’s time. Jehovah caused Jeroboam to become sick, and Jeroboam died. ²¹ Abijah became strong. He married fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. ²² The history of Abijah, including how he lived, is written by the prophet Iddo.

¹ Abijah slept in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. In Asa’s time the land had peace for ten years. ² Asa did what Jehovah his God considered good and right.

² Asa did what Jehovah his God considered good and right. ³ He got rid of the altars of foreign gods. He broke down the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah.

³ He got rid of the altars of foreign gods. He broke down the sacred stones. He cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. ⁴ He told the people of Judah to dedicate their lives to Jehovah. They were to serve the God of their ancestors and observe (obey) his teachings and commandments. ⁵ He got rid of the illegal places of worship and destroyed the altars for incense in all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at peace during his reign.

⁵ He got rid of the illegal places of worship and destroyed the altars for incense in all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at peace during his reign.

¹¹ Asa prayed: »Jehovah, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. We depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name! We know that you will not be defeated. You are Jehovah our God. Do not let man prevail against you.«

¹³ Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat! The Ethiopians could not even fight back! The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians.

¹⁵ All the people of Judah were overjoyed because of the oath. They took the oath wholeheartedly. They took great pleasure in looking for Jehovah. And he let them find him. So Jehovah surrounded them with rest and peace. ¹⁶ King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from the position of queen mother. She made a statue of the repulsive goddess Asherah. Asa immediately cut the statue down, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁷ Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed to Jehovah his entire life.

¹⁷ Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed to Jehovah his entire life.

¹⁷ Although the illegal worship sites in Israel were not taken down, Asa remained committed to Jehovah his entire life. ¹⁸ He brought into God’s Temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.

¹⁸ He brought into God’s Temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy.

¹⁸ He brought into God’s Temple the silver, the gold, and the utensils he and his father had set apart as holy. ¹⁹ There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

¹ It was the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign. King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and built fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah. ² Then Asa brought out all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Jehovah’s Temple and the royal palace. He sent them to Damascus to King Benhadad. ³ He said: »There is a treaty between you and me as there was between your father and my father. I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.«

³ He said: »There is a treaty between you and me as there was between your father and my father. I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.« ⁴ Benhadad agreed to do what King Asa requested. He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities in the territory of Naphtali. ⁵ When King Baasha heard what happened he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the work.

⁵ When King Baasha heard what happened he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the work. ⁶ King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah. They used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah.

⁶ King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah. They used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah. ⁷ Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa. He said: »Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you.

⁷ Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa. He said: »Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you. ⁸ »The Ethiopians and the Libyans, did they have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops? But because you relied on Jehovah he gave you victory over them. ⁹ »The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength (shows His strength) to (in behalf of) those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.«

⁹ »The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world. He gives strength (shows His strength) to (in behalf of) those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly! Therefore from now on you will always be at war.« ¹⁰ Asa was so angry with the prophet that he had him put in chains. It was at this same time that Asa began treating some of the people cruelly. ¹¹ All the events of Asa’s reign from beginning to end are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² In the thirty-ninth year that Asa was king a severe foot disease crippled him. Even then he did not turn to Jehovah for help, but to doctors. ¹³ Two years later he died. ¹⁴ Asa was buried in the rock tomb that he had carved out for himself in David’s City. They used spices and perfumed oils to prepare his body for burial. They built a huge bonfire to mourn his death.

¹ Jehoshaphat succeeded his father Asa as king and strengthened his position against Israel. ² He stationed troops in the fortified cities of Judah. He also put troops in the Judean countryside, and in the cities that Asa had captured in the territory of Ephraim. ³ Jehovah blessed Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early life and did not worship Baal. ⁴ He served his father’s God. He obeyed God’s commandments, and did not act the way the kings of Israel did. ⁵ Jehovah gave Jehoshaphat firm control over the kingdom of Judah. The people brought him gifts, so that he became wealthy and highly honored. ⁶ His heart was devoted to the ways of Jehovah. He destroyed all the pagan places of worship and the symbols of the goddess Asherah in Judah. ⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah. ⁸ With them were the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, Tob Adonijah, and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught in Judah. They had the Book of Torah (the Law) (Jehovah’s Teachings) with them when they taught the people in all the cities of Judah.

² A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king. He said to him: »Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate Jehovah? What you have done has brought Jehovah’s anger upon you.

² He did what Jehovah considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly.

⁷ Jehovah was not willing to destroy the dynasty of David. This is because he made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would always continue to rule.

² He did what Jehovah considered right. He lived in the ways of his ancestor David and never stopped living this way.

⁴ He tore down the altars of the Baal gods. He cut down the incense altars that were above them. He destroyed the Asherah poles, carved idols, and metal idols. He ground them into powder and scattered the powder over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.

²⁰ This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and right and true to Jehovah his God. ²¹ Hezekiah incorporated Moses’ teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving God. Whatever he did for the worship in God’s Temple, he did wholeheartedly, and he succeeded.

²⁸ O Jehovah, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light.

¹ ([[Psalm of David] when the prophet Nathan came to him after David's adultery with Bathsheba:]) Have mercy on me, O God, in keeping with your loving-kindness. According to your unlimited compassion, wipe out my transgressions.

⁵ But of Zion it shall be said: »This one and that one were born in her and the Most High will establish her.«

¹⁰ The days of our lives are seventy or eighty years if we are in good health. But the best of them bring trouble and misery. Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.

⁶ I will not be ashamed when I look upon all your commandments.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes so that I will not be ashamed.

¹⁷ There I will make the horn of David grow (give mighty power to David). I will prepare a lamp (light) for my anointed one.

⁴ (The Beloved) »You are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

³² What then will one answer the messengers that come to us from Philistia? We will tell them that Jehovah has established Zion and in her the poor and afflicted of his people find refuge.

¹ How horrible it will be for those who go to Egypt for help! Cursed are those who rely on very strong warhorses, who depend on many chariots. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel. They do not seek Jehovah.

⁴ Woe to the sinful nation, people heavy with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, sons who are corrupt! They have forsaken Jehovah! They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from him.

⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will accomplish this.

³⁵ »‘I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!’«

⁷ and do not give him any rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it an object of praise throughout the earth.«

¹⁵ »This is what Jehovah says: ‘A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel is crying for her children. She refuses to be comforted, because they are dead.’«

³⁵ In the valley of Ben Hinnom they built worship sites for Baal to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I did not ask them to do this. It never entered my heart (mind). I did not make Judah sin.’

² »Jehovah is the maker of the earth. Jehovah is the one who formed and established it. Jehovah is His name.

²⁰ »If you break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, ²¹ then my covenant may also be broken with David my servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, with the Levitical priests as my ministers. ²² »‘I will increase the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who serve me in the same way as the stars of heaven that cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore that cannot be measured.’« ²³ The word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah: ²⁴ »Have you not observed what this people have said. They say, ‘The two families Jehovah chose, he has rejected?’ Thus they despise my people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight. ²⁵ »Jehovah says: ‘If My covenant for day and night do not stand and I have not established the fixed patterns of heaven and earth, ²⁶ then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant. And I would not take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their prosperity and will show them love and compassion.’«

⁶ Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

¹⁰ »I am going to live in Mizpah and represent you when the Babylonians come to us. Gather grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil, and put them in storage jars. Live in the cities you have taken over.«

²⁷ »I will set fire to your city walls and burn down the fortresses King Benhadad built.«

¹³ »He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, ¹⁴ that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue. ¹⁵ »But he rebelled against him! He sent his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape?’ ¹⁶ »‘»As I am alive,’ says the Lord Jehovah, ‘this king will die in Babylon because he broke his oath and the treaty with the one who put him on the throne the king of Babylon.

¹⁸ ‘»»I said to their children in the desert: Do not live by the laws of your ancestors. Do not obey their rules or dishonor yourselves with their disgusting idols. ¹⁹ ‘»»I am Jehovah your God! Walk in my statutes and obey my ordinances.

⁴ »I will send fire to the house of Hazael and it will devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.

¹ It will happen in the last days! The mountain of the house of Jehovah will be established above the top of the mountains. It will be exalted above the hills. Peoples will flow to it. ² Many nations will come. They will say: »Come you people, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths!« For out of Zion will go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

² Jehovah was very angry with your fathers. ³ Tell them, Jehovah of Hosts has said: »Jehovah of Hosts says return to me and I will return to you.« ⁴ »Do not be like your fathers! The former prophets declared: ‘Jehovah of Hosts said, I implore you, return from your evil ways, and from your wicked activities! But they did not listen, they paid no attention to me,’« said Jehovah. ⁵ »’Your fathers, where are they?’ The prophets, do they live forever? ⁶ »I commanded my servants the prophets to obey my words and my statutes. They disregarded them and suffered greatly. Then they repented and admitted that I, Jehovah of Hosts, corrected them as they deserved according to their deeds.’«

³ »It will happen when any attempt to prophesy, the father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him: You will not live, for you speak lies in the name of Jehovah. They will stab him through when he prophesies.

⁷ Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, ⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah,

⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah,

⁴⁶ While Jesus was yet speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers stood nearby. They wanted to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told Jesus: »Look, your mother and your brothers stand nearby seeking to speak to you.« ⁴⁸ But he answered: »Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?« ⁴⁹ He stretched out his hand towards his disciples, and said: »Behold, my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ »For everyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.«

³⁷ »He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

¹⁸ »You are Peter (Greek: petros: piece of rock), and on this rock-mass (Greek: petra: mass of rock) (referring to Jesus) I will build my congregation. The entrance to the grave (Greek: Hades) will not have power to stop it.

⁶ They were both righteous before God. They blamelessly obeyed all the commandments and ordinances of God (Greek: kurios: God).

⁶⁹ »He raised up a horn of salvation (power of deliverance) for us in the house of his servant David ⁷⁰ »He spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from ages past. ⁷¹ »He provided salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. ⁷² »He shows mercy towards our fathers and remembers his holy covenant. ⁷³ »It was the oath he spoke to Abraham our father. ⁷⁴ »He gave us deliverance out of the hand of our enemies so we could serve him without fear. ⁷⁵ »May we serve in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶ »Your child will be called the prophet of the Most High. You will go in advance of Jehovah God to make his ways ready. (Malachi 3:1) ⁷⁷ »To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins. ⁷⁸ »A rising of light will visit us from on high because of the tender mercy of our God. ⁷⁹ »The light will shine on them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet into the way of peace.«

³² »It is a light of revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.«

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying: »I am the light of the world. He that follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.«

¹ When Jesus finished his prayer he and his disciples crossed the Kedron winter stream to a garden.

²² »When he removed him, he made David their king. He testified about him when he said: I found David the son of Jesse is a man after my own heart. He will do my will.

³⁶ »After David served his own generation by doing the will of God he died and was buried with his fathers. His body decayed.

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. ²⁷ Also the men left the natural use of the woman and burned in their lust, one toward another; men with men working that which is obscene. They receive full recompense due for their error.

³¹ without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, and unmerciful.

⁸ Why not say, »Let us do evil so that good may come?« Some people have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They should be condemned and they will be.

²⁸ Concerning the good news, they are enemies for your sakes. With reference to the chosen ones, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.

¹⁵ If because of your food your brother is grieved, you do not walk in love. Do not allow what you eat to destroy the one for whom Christ died.

¹⁰ If any man with knowledge sees you having a meal from an idol’s temple, will the conscience of the weak one be emboldened (encouraged) to eat food offered to idols? ¹¹ And because of your knowledge the weak brother will perish. Christ died for him! ¹² When you sin against your brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ If food makes my brother stumble I will eat no food at all so I do not make my brother stumble.

¹⁶ From now on we know no man according to the flesh: even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.

⁵ We did not yield to them for a moment or an hour! That way the truth of the good news (the whole body of Christian teachings) might continue with you. ⁶ Those who were recognized as important people did not add a single thing to my message. What sort of people they were makes no difference to me. God does not play favorites (show partiality).

¹⁴ I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the good news. Therefore I said to Cephas, in front of them all: »If you, being a Jew, live as the nations do and not as the Jews, why do you compel the people of the nations to live like the Jews?«

¹⁸ Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,

⁷ Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them are an example for they, in like manner with these surrendered to fornication and went after flesh for unnatural use. They received justice by ever burning fire.

¹⁶ »'I Jesus have sent my angel to tell you about these things in the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.'«