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Judges 2:16-18
Contemporary English Version
Judges 2:16-18
Contemporary English Version
The Lord Chooses Leaders for Israel
16 From time to time, the Lord would choose special leaders known as judges.[a] These judges would lead the Israelites into battle and defeat the enemies that made raids on them. 17 In years gone by, the Israelites had been faithful to the Lord, but now they were quick to be unfaithful and to refuse even to listen to these judges. The Israelites disobeyed the Lord, and instead of worshiping him, they worshiped other gods.
18 When enemies made life miserable for the Israelites, the Lord felt sorry for them. He would choose a judge and help that judge rescue Israel from its enemies. The Lord was kind to Israel as long as that judge lived.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2.16 special leaders known as judges: The Hebrew text has “judges.” In addition to leading Israelites in battle, these special leaders also decided legal cases and sometimes performed religious duties.
Judges 2:16-18
New International Version
Judges 2:16-18
New International Version
16 Then the Lord raised up judges,[a](A) who saved(B) them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted(C) themselves to other gods(D) and worshiped them.(E) They quickly turned(F) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.(G) 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved(H) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented(I) because of their groaning(J) under those who oppressed and afflicted(K) them.
Footnotes
- Judges 2:16 Or leaders; similarly in verses 17-19
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.