Amaziah King of Judah^(A)(B)

14 In the second year of Jehoash^[a] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. ⁴ The high places,^(C) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

⁵ After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed^(D) the officials^(E) who had murdered his father the king. ⁶ Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law^(F) of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”^[b](G)

⁷ He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt^(H) and captured Sela^(I) in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”

⁹ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle^(J) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. ¹⁰ You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.^(K) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

¹¹ Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh^(L) in Judah. ¹² Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.^{(M) 13} Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall^(N) of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate^(O) to the Corner Gate^(P)—a section about four hundred cubits long.^{[c] 14} He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

¹⁵ As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war^(Q) against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ¹⁶ Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.

¹⁷ Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. ¹⁸ As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

¹⁹ They conspired^(R) against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,^(S) but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. ²⁰ He was brought back by horse^(T) and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

²¹ Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,^[d](U) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² He was the one who rebuilt Elath^(V) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

Jeroboam II King of Israel

²³ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam^(W) son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.^{(X) 25} He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath^(Y) to the Dead Sea,^[e](Z) in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah^(AA) son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

²⁶ The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free,^(AB) was suffering;^[f](AC) there was no one to help them.^{(AD) 27} And since the Lord had not said he would blot out^(AE) the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved^(AF) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

²⁸ As for the other events of Jeroboam’s reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus^(AG) and Hamath,^(AH) which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals^(AI) of the kings of Israel? ²⁹ Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(A) and in view of his appearing^(B) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{(C) 2} Preach^(D) the word;^(E) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(F) and encourage^(G)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(H) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(I) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(J) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(K) do the work of an evangelist,^(L) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^(M) and the time for my departure is near.^{(N) 7} I have fought the good fight,^(O) I have finished the race,^(P) I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me^(Q) the crown of righteousness,^(R) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^(S)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^(T)

Personal Remarks

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly,^{(U) 10} for Demas,^(V) because he loved this world,^(W) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.^(X) Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(Y) and Titus^(Z) to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke^(AA) is with me.^(AB) Get Mark^(AC) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus^(AD) to Ephesus.^{(AE) 13} When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,^(AF) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander^(AG) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.^{(AH) 15} You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^{(AI) 17} But the Lord stood at my side^(AJ) and gave me strength,^(AK) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^(AL) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^{(AM) 18} The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack^(AN) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.^(AO) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(AP)

Final Greetings

¹⁹ Greet Priscilla^[a] and Aquila^(AQ) and the household of Onesiphorus.^{(AR) 20} Erastus^(AS) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus^(AT) sick in Miletus.^{(AU) 21} Do your best to get here before winter.^(AV) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^[b]

²² The Lord be with your spirit.^(AW) Grace be with you all.^(AX)