2 Kings 18:1-8

New International Version

Hezekiah King of Judah^(A)^(B)^(C)

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah^(D) son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. ²He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.^(E) His mother’s name was Abijah^[a] daughter of Zechariah. ³He did what was right^(F) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David^(G) had done. ⁴He removed^(H) the high places,^(I) smashed the sacred stones^(J) and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake^(K) Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.^[b])

⁵Hezekiah trusted^(L) in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. ⁶He held fast^(M) to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. ⁷And the Lord was with him; he was successful^(N) in whatever he undertook. He rebelled^(O) against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. ⁸From watchtower to fortified city,^(P) he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

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Footnotes

2 Kings 18:2 Hebrew Abi, a variant of Abijah
2 Kings 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for both bronze and snake.

Psalm 27

New International Version

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹The Lord is my light^(A) and my salvation^(B)—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold^(C) of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?^(D)

²When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.^(E)
³Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;^(F)
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.^(G)

⁴One thing^(H) I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,^(I)
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵For in the day of trouble^(J)
    he will keep me safe^(K) in his dwelling;
he will hide me^(L) in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.^(M)

⁶Then my head will be exalted^(N)
above the enemies who surround me;^(O)
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice^(P) with shouts of joy;^(Q)
I will sing^(R) and make music^(S) to the Lord.

⁷Hear my voice^(T) when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.^(U)
⁸My heart says of you, “Seek his face!^(V)”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹Do not hide your face^(W) from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;^(X)
    you have been my helper.^(Y)
Do not reject me or forsake^(Z) me,
    God my Savior.^(AA)
¹⁰Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹Teach me your way,^(AB) Lord;
    lead me in a straight path^(AC)
    because of my oppressors.^(AD)
¹²Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses^(AE) rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord^(AF)
    in the land of the living.^(AG)
¹⁴Wait^(AH) for the Lord;
    be strong^(AI) and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.