God Judges Ahaziah

Moab (A)rebelled against Israel (B)after the death of Ahab.

Now (C)Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of (D)Baal-Zebub,[a] the god of (E)Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” But the [b]angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

And when the messengers returned to [c]him, he said to them, “Why have you come back?”

So they said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” ’ ”

Then he said to them, “What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?”

So they answered him, (F)“A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.”

And he said, (G)“It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ”

10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then (H)let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men.

And he answered and said to him: “Man of God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’ ”

12 So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and [d]fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours (I)be precious in your sight. 14 Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.”

15 And the [e]angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 1:2 Lit. Lord of Flies
  2. 2 Kings 1:3 Or Angel
  3. 2 Kings 1:5 Ahaziah
  4. 2 Kings 1:13 Lit. bowed down
  5. 2 Kings 1:15 Or Angel

Assurance to Baruch

45 The (A)word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to (B)Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book [a]at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the (C)fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I (D)fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” ’

“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, (E)what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, (F)I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the Lord. “But I will give your (G)life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 45:1 Lit. from Jeremiah’s mouth

The Prayer in the Garden(A)

32 (B)Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He (C)took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, (D)“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, (E)“Abba, Father, (F)all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; (G)nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.

37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 (H)Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. (I)The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! (J)The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 (K)Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

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