⁵ This is what the Lord says:

Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt

⁸ With him is only the arm of flesh,^(A) but with us^(B) is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”^(C) And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

¹¹ Then Asa called^(A) to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us,^(B) Lord our God, for we rely^(C) on you, and in your name^(D) we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail^(E) against you.”

¹³ All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

¹⁴ Then the Spirit^(C) of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,^(D) a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

¹⁵ He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged^(E) because of this vast army. For the battle^(F) is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see^(G) the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

¹⁸ Jehoshaphat bowed down^(H) with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. ¹⁹ Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith^(I) in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.^(J)”