Judah’s King Amaziah

14 In(A) the second year of Israel’s King Jehoash[a](B) son of Jehoahaz,[b] Amaziah(C) son of Joash became king of Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan;[c] she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. He did everything his father Joash had done.(D) Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.(E)

As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah killed his servants who had killed his father the king.(F) However, he did not put the children of the killers to death, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses where the Lord commanded, “Fathers are not to be put to death because of children, and children are not to be put to death because of fathers; instead, each one will be put to death for his own sin.”(G)

Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.(H) He took Sela(I) in battle and called it Joktheel,(J) which is still its name today. Amaziah then sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, and challenged him: “Come, let’s meet face to face.”(K)

King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, saying, “The thistle in Lebanon once sent a message to the cedar(L) in Lebanon,(M) saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thistle. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and you have become overconfident.[d](N) Enjoy your glory and stay at home. Why should you stir up such trouble that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

11 But Amaziah would not listen, so King Jehoash of Israel advanced. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face at Beth-shemesh(O) that belonged to Judah. 12 Judah was routed before Israel, and each man fled to his own tent.(P) 13 King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash,[e] son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down two hundred yards[f] of Jerusalem’s wall from the Ephraim Gate(Q) to the Corner Gate.(R) 14 He took all the gold and silver, all the articles found in the Lord’s temple and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and some hostages.(S) Then he returned to Samaria.

Jehoash’s Death

15 The rest of the events of Jehoash’s reign, along with his accomplishments, his might, and how he waged war against King Amaziah of Judah, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(T) 16 Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and he was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place.

Amaziah’s Death

17 Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash lived fifteen years after the death of Israel’s King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz.(U) 18 The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(V) 19 A conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem,(W) and he fled to Lachish.(X) However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there. 20 They carried him back(Y) on horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the city of David.(Z)

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[g](AA) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 After Amaziah the king rested with his ancestors, Azariah rebuilt Elath[h](AB) and restored it to Judah.

Israel’s King Jeroboam

23 In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam(AC) son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.(AD)

25 He restored Israel’s border(AE) from Lebo-hamath(AF) as far as the Sea of the Arabah,(AG) according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah(AH) son of Amittai from Gath-hepher.(AI) 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter(AJ) for both slaves and free people.[i] There was no one to help Israel. 27 The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven,(AK) so he delivered(AL) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

28 The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign—along with all his accomplishments, the power he had to wage war, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus(AM) and Hamath,(AN) which had belonged to Judah[j]—are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(AO) 29 Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. 14:1 Lit Joash, also in vv. 23,27
  2. 14:1 Lit Joahaz
  3. 14:2 Alt Hb tradition, some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Vg, 2Ch 25:1; other Hb mss, LXX read Jehoaddin
  4. 14:10 Lit and your heart has lifted you
  5. 14:13 Lit Jehoash
  6. 14:13 Lit 400 cubits
  7. 14:21 = Uzziah in 2Ch 26:1
  8. 14:22 = Eloth in 2Ch 26:2
  9. 14:26 Hb obscure
  10. 14:28 Lit recovered Damascus and for Judah in Israel; Hb obscure

Fulfill Your Ministry

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge(A) the living and the dead,(B) and because of his appearing and his kingdom:(C) Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine,(D) but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.(E) But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,(F) fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,(G) and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown(H) of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,(I) will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.[a](J)

Final Instructions

Make every effort to come to me soon,(K) 10 because Demas(L) has deserted me,(M) since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.(N) Crescens has gone to Galatia,(O) Titus(P) to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke(Q) is with me. Bring Mark(R) with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus(S) to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas(T) with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander(U) the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 Watch out(V) for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.(W) May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.(X) To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Benediction

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila,(Y) and the household of Onesiphorus.(Z) 20 Erastus(AA) has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus(AB) sick at Miletus.(AC) 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. 4:8 Or have longed for his appearing

when I heal Israel,(A)
the iniquity of Ephraim(B) and the crimes of Samaria(C)
will be exposed.
For they practice fraud;(D)
a thief breaks in;
a raiding party pillages outside.(E)
But they never consider that I remember all their evil.(F)
Now their actions are all around them;(G)
they are right in front of my face.

Israel’s Corruption

They please the king with their evil,(H)
the princes with their lies.(I)

All of them commit adultery;(J)
they are like an oven heated by a baker
who stops stirring the fire
from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
On the day of our king,
the princes are sick with the heat of wine(K)
there is a conspiracy with traitors.[a]
For they—their hearts like an oven—
draw him into their oven.
Their anger smolders all night;
in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

All of them are as hot as an oven,(L)
and they consume their rulers.(M)
All their kings fall;
not one of them calls on me.[b]
Ephraim has allowed himself to get mixed up with the nations.
Ephraim is unturned bread baked on a griddle.
Foreigners consume his strength,(N)
but he does not notice.(O)
Even his hair is streaked with gray,
but he does not notice.
10 Israel’s arrogance testifies against them,[c](P)
yet they do not return to the Lord their God,(Q)
and for all this, they do not seek him.

11 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove;(R)
they call to Egypt,(S) and they go to Assyria.(T)
12 As they are going, I will spread my net over them;(U)
I will bring them down like birds of the sky.
I will discipline them in accordance
with the news that reaches[d] their assembly.

The Lord’s Second Lament

13 Woe to them,(V) for they fled from me;(W)
destruction to them, for they rebelled against me!
Though I want to redeem them,(X)
they speak lies against me.
14 They do not cry to me from their hearts;
rather, they wail on their beds.
They slash themselves[e](Y) for grain and new wine;(Z)
they turn away from me.
15 I trained and strengthened their arms,(AA)
but they plot evil against me.(AB)
16 They turn, but not to what is above;[f]
they are like a faulty bow.(AC)
Their leaders will fall by the sword
because of their insolent tongue.(AD)
They will be ridiculed for this in the land of Egypt.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 7:5 Lit wine—he stretches out his hand to scorners; Hb obscure
  2. 7:3–7 These vv. may refer to a king’s assassination; Hb obscure.
  3. 7:10 Lit against his face
  4. 7:12 Lit news to
  5. 7:14 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read They stay
  6. 7:16 Some emend to turn to what is useless

Psalm 120

A Cry for Truth and Peace

A song of ascents.

In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.(A)
Lord, rescue me from lying lips
and a deceitful tongue.”(B)

What will he give you,
and what will he do to you,
you deceitful tongue?(C)
A warrior’s sharp arrows
with burning charcoal![a](D)

What misery that I have stayed in Meshech,[b](E)
that I have lived among the tents of Kedar![c](F)
I have dwelt too long
with those who hate peace.(G)
I am for peace; but when I speak,
they are for war.(H)

Psalm 121

The Lord Our Protector

A song of ascents.

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?(I)
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(J)

He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.(K)
Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.(L)

The Lord protects you;
the Lord is a shelter right by your side.[d](M)
The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.(N)

The Lord will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.(O)
The Lord will protect your coming and going
both now and forever.(P)

Psalm 122

A Prayer for Jerusalem

A song of ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”(Q)
Our feet were standing
within your gates, Jerusalem(R)

Jerusalem, built as a city should be,
solidly united,(S)
where the tribes, the Lord’s tribes, go up
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.(T)
(This is an ordinance for Israel.(U))
There, thrones for judgment are placed,
thrones of the house of David.(V)

Pray for the well-being[e] of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure;(W)
may there be peace within your walls,
security within your fortresses.”(X)
Because of my brothers and friends,
I will say, “May peace be in you.”[f](Y)
Because of the house of the Lord our God,
I will pursue your prosperity.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. 120:4 Lit with coals of the broom bush
  2. 120:5 = a people far to the north of Palestine
  3. 120:5 = a nomadic people of the desert to the southeast
  4. 121:5 Lit is your shelter at your right hand
  5. 122:6 Or peace
  6. 122:8 = Jerusalem

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB He Reads Truth Bible--LeatherTouch, saddle
CSB He Reads Truth Bible--LeatherTouch, saddle
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $36.99
Save: $13.00 (26%)
CSB Study Bible, Brown Genuine Leather
CSB Study Bible, Brown Genuine Leather
Retail: $89.99
Our Price: $56.99
Save: $33.00 (37%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids--hardcover
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids--hardcover
Retail: $34.99
Our Price: $18.99
Save: $16.00 (46%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--soft leather-look, rose gold (indexed)
CSB She Reads Truth Bible--soft leather-look, rose gold (indexed)
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $38.99
Save: $21.00 (35%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, Black Bonded Leather, Index
CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, Black Bonded Leather, Index
Retail: $89.99
Our Price: $30.49
Save: $59.50 (66%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Apologetics Study Bible, Hardcover
CSB Apologetics Study Bible, Hardcover
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $28.99
Save: $11.00 (28%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars