The Daily Audio Bible
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17 Forsooth Jehoshaphat, his son, reigned for him; and he had the mastery against Israel.
2 And he set numbers of knights in all the cities of Judah, that were (en)compassed with walls (And he put numbers of horsemen in all the cities of Judah, that were surrounded with walls), and he disposed strongholds in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa, his father, had taken.
3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, which went in the first ways of David, his father; he hoped not in Baalim, (And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, who went in the early ways of his father Asa; he did not trust in, or follow, the Baalim,)
4 but he hoped in the Lord God of David, his father (but he hoped in the Lord God of his father Asa), and he went in the commandments of God, and not after the sins of Israel.
5 And the Lord confirmed the realm in his hand; and all Judah gave gifts to Jehoshaphat, and riches without number, and much glory was made to him.
6 And when his heart had taken hardiness for the ways of the Lord, he took away also (the) high places and [maumet] woods from Judah. (And he took pride in following the ways of the Lord, and he also did away the hill shrines and the idol groves, or the sacred poles, in Judah.)
7 And in the third year of his realm, he sent of his princes (he sent his officials), Benhail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethaneel, and Michaiah, that they should teach in the cities of Judah;
8 and with them he sent nine deacons, (or Levites,) that is, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, deacons (all Levites); and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests;
9 and they taught the people in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord; and they compassed all the cities of Judah, and taught all the people. (and they taught the people in Judah, and had The Book of the Law of the Lord; and they went all around the cities of Judah, and taught all the people.)
10 Therefore the dread of the Lord was made upon all the realms of (the) lands, that were (round) about Judah; and those durst not fight against Jehoshaphat.
11 But also [the] Philistines brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, and toll, or tribute, of silver; and men of Arabia brought to him sheep, seven thousand and seven hundred wethers, and so many bucks of goats (and as many goat bucks).
12 Then Jehoshaphat increased, and was magnified till to on high; and he builded in Judah houses at the likeness of towers, and full strong cities;
13 and he made ready many works in the cities of Judah. Also men warriors and strong men were in Jerusalem; (and he had much work done in the cities of Judah. And there were men of war and strong men in Jerusalem;)
14 of which this is the number, by the houses and families of all (the) men (who were) in Judah. Duke Adnah was prince of the host (Adnah was the leader of the army), and with him were three hundred thousand full strong men.
15 And after him was Jehohanan (the) prince (And second in command was Jehohanan), and with him were two hundred thousand and fourscore thousand men.
16 After this also Amasiah, the son of Zichri, was hallowed to the Lord (And after him was Amasiah, the son of Zichri, who was dedicated to the Lord), and with him were two hundred thousand of strong men.
17 (And of Benjamin;) Eliada, a mighty man to battles, followed this Amasiah, and with him were two hundred thousand of men holding bow and shield. (And of Benjamin; Eliada, a mighty man of battles, and with him were two hundred thousand men holding bow and shield.)
18 After this was also Jehozabad, and with him were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand of ready knights. (And after him was Jehozabad, and with him were a hundred and eighty thousand fully-armed horsemen.)
19 All these were at the hand of the king, besides others, which he had put in walled cities in all Judah. (All of these were at the hand of the king, besides others, whom he had put in the fortified cities in all of Judah.)
18 Forsooth Jehoshaphat was full rich, and noble, and by affinity he was joined to Ahab. (Now Jehoshaphat was very rich, and noble, and by marriage he was joined to Ahab.)
2 And after certain years Jehoshaphat came down to Ahab into Samaria; at whose coming Ahab killed full many wethers and oxen, and to the people that came with him; and Ahab counselled Jehoshaphat to go up with him into Ramoth of Gilead. (And after some years Jehoshaphat came down to Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed a great many rams and oxen for him, and for the people who came with him; and Ahab counselled Jehoshaphat to go up with him into Ramoth of Gilead.)
3 And Ahab, king of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, Come thou with me into Ramoth of Gilead. To whom he answered, As and I am, so and thou art; and as thy people, so and my people; and we shall be with thee in battle. (And Ahab, the king of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, Come thou with me to Ramoth of Gilead. And Jehoshaphat answered, I am ready when thou art/What is mine is yours; and my people be as thy people; and we shall be with thee in battle.)
4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I beseech thee, counsel thou in this present time the word of the Lord.
5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together four hundred men of (the) prophets, and said to them, Ought we to go into Ramoth of Gilead for to fight, either take rest? (or should we not?) And the prophets said, Go ye up, and God shall betake it into the hand of the king.
6 And Jehoshaphat said, Whether no (other) prophet of the Lord is here, that we may also ask of him?
7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, One man is, of whom we may ask the will of the Lord, but I hate him, for he prophesieth not good, but evil to me, in all time; soothly it is Micaiah, the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said to him, King, speak thou not in this manner. (And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is one man, of whom we can ask the will of the Lord, but I hate him, for every time he prophesieth not good, but only evil for me; this is Micaiah, the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said to him, O king, do not thou say such things.)
8 Then the king of Israel called one of his geldings, or (his honest and) chaste servants, and said to him, Call thou anon Micaiah, the son of Imla. (Then the king of Israel called one of his eunuchs, and said to him, Call thou at once Micaiah, the son of Imla.)
9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, sat ever either in his seat, and they were clothed in king’s array; and they sat in the cornfloor, beside the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. (And the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, both sat on their thrones, and they were clothed in king’s clothing; and they sat at the entrance to the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.)
10 And Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, made to him iron horns (made iron horns for himself), and said, The Lord saith these things, With these, thou shalt winnow the men of Syria, till thou all-brake them.
11 And all the prophets prophesied in like manner, and said, Go thou up into Ramoth of Gilead, and thou shalt have prosperity; and the Lord shall betake them into the hands of the king (yea, the Lord shall deliver them into the hands of the king).
12 And the messenger, that went to call Micaiah (who went to call Micaiah), said to him, Lo! the words of all the prophets tell with one mouth good things to the king; therefore, I pray thee, that thy word dissent not from them, and that thou speak prosperities to him.
13 To whom Micaiah answered, (As) The Lord liveth, for whatever things my Lord God speaketh to me, I shall say those things.
14 Therefore he came to the king (And so he came to the king). To whom the king said, Micaiah, ought we (to) go into Ramoth of Gilead to fight, either (should we) take rest, and not to go thither? To whom Micaiah answered, Go ye up thither, for all prosperities shall come to you, and [the] enemies shall be taken into your hands.
15 And the king said to him, Again and again I charge thee, that thou speak not to me no but that that is sooth in the name of the Lord.
16 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered abroad in the hills, as sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, These men have not lords; each man therefore turn again into his house in peace. (And then Micaiah said, I saw all Israel scattered over the hills, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, These men have no leader; so let each man return to his house in peace.)
17 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Whether I said not to thee, that he prophesied not any good to me, but those things that be evil? (And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not say to thee, that he would not prophesy any good for me, but only those things that be evil?)
18 And then Micaiah said, Hear ye the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting in his throne (I saw the Lord sitting on his throne), and all the host of heaven standing nigh [to] him at the right side and at the left.
19 And the Lord said, Who shall deceive Ahab, king of Israel, (so) that he go up, and fall down in Ramoth of Gilead? And when one said in this manner, and another said in another manner,
20 a spirit came forth, and stood before the Lord, and said, I shall deceive him. To whom the Lord said, And wherein shalt thou deceive him? (And how shalt thou deceive him?)
21 And he answered, I shall go out, and I shall be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt deceive him, and thou shalt have the mastery; go thou out, and do so.
22 Now therefore, lo! the Lord hath given a spirit of leasing in the mouth of all thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil things of thee, that is, he hath said (of the) evil things to come to thee. (And so now, lo! the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil things for thee, that is, he hath said that evil things shall come to thee.)
23 And Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah, nighed, and he smote Micaiah upon the cheek (and he struck Micaiah upon his cheek), and said, By what way hath the Spirit of the Lord passed from me to speak with thee?
24 And Micaiah said, Thou thyself shalt see in that day, when thou shalt enter from closet into closet, that thou be hid. (And Micaiah said, Thou thyself shalt see, or shalt discover, on that day, when thou shalt go from closet to closet, so that thou can be hid.)
25 And the king of Israel commanded, saying, Take ye Micaiah, and lead ye him to Amon, [the] prince of the city, and to Joash, the son of Amalek (the son of Ahab);
26 and ye shall say to them, The king saith these things, Send ye this man into prison, and give ye to him a little of bread, and a little of water, till I turn again in peace (until I return home safely).
27 And Micaiah said, If thou turnest again in peace, the Lord spake not to me. And he said, All peoples hear ye. (And Micaiah said, If thou returnest home safely, the Lord did not speak through me. And he said, Hear ye, all the people.)
28 Then the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up into Ramoth of Gilead.
29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I shall change my clothing, and so I shall go to fight; but be thou clothed in thy (king’s) clothes. Therefore when the king of Israel had changed (his) clothing, he came to (the) battle.
30 And the king of Syria commanded to the dukes of the multitude of his knights, and said, Fight ye not against the least, nor against the most; but against the king alone of Israel. (And the king of Syria had commanded to the leaders of his multitude of horsemen, and said, Do not ye fight against the least, or against the most, but only against the king of Israel.)
31 Therefore when the princes of the multitude of knights had seen Jehoshaphat, they said, This is the king of Israel; and they (en)compassed him, and fought against him (And so when the leaders of the multitude of horsemen had seen Jehoshaphat, they said, This is the king of Israel; and they surrounded him, and fought against him). And Jehoshaphat cried to the Lord; and the Lord helped him, and turned them away from him.
32 And when the dukes of the multitude of knights had heard, or understood, that it was not the king of Israel, they left him/they let him go. (And when the leaders of the multitude of horsemen had understood that he was not the king of Israel, they let him go.)
33 And it befelled, that one man of the people shot an arrow into uncertain(ty), and he smote the king of Israel betwixt the neck and the shoulders. And he said to his charioteer, Turn thine hand, and lead me out of the battle array; for I am wounded.
34 And the battle was ended in that day. Certainly the king of Israel stood in his chariot against (the) men of Syria till to eventide, and he died, when the sun went down. (And the battle ended that day. And the king of Israel stood in his chariot facing the men of Syria until the evening, and then he died, when the sun went down.)
25 as he saith in Osee, I shall call not my people my people, and not my loved my loved, and not getting mercy getting mercy [and not having mercy having mercy];
26 and it shall be in the place, where it is said to them, Not ye my people, there they shall be called the sons of living God.
27 But Esaias crieth for Israel [Forsooth Esaias crieth for Israel], If the number of children of Israel shall be as [the] gravel of the sea, the remnants [the reliefs] shall be made safe.
28 Forsooth a word making an end, and abridging in equity, for the Lord shall make a word abridged on all the earth[a].
29 And as Esaias before-said, But God of hosts had left to us seed, we had been made as Sodom, and we had been like as Gomorrha.
30 Therefore what shall we say? That heathen men that followed not rightwiseness, have gotten rightwiseness [have caught rightwiseness], yea, the rightwiseness that is of faith.
31 But Israel following the law of rightwiseness, came not perfectly to [into] the law of rightwiseness.
32 Why? For not of faith, but as of works. And they spurned against the stone of offence [Soothly they offended against the stone of offence, or spurning],
33 as it is written, Lo! I put a stone of offence in Sion, and a stone of stumbling; and each that shall believe in it, shall not be confounded. [as it is written, Lo! I put a stone of spurning in Sion, and a stone of offence; and each that shall believe into it, shall not be confounded, or shamed.]
10 Brethren, the will of mine heart and my beseeching is made to God for them into health.
2 But I bear witnessing to them [Forsooth I bear witnessing to them], that they have the love of God, but not after knowing.
3 For they not knowing God's rightwiseness [For they unknowing God's rightwiseness], and seeking to make steadfast their own rightwiseness, be not subject to the rightwiseness of God.
4 For the end of the law is Christ, to rightwiseness to each man that believeth.
5 For Moses wrote, For the man that shall do rightwiseness that is of the law, shall live in it.
6 But the rightwiseness that is of belief, saith thus, Say thou not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is to say, to lead down Christ;
7 or who shall go down into hell? that is, to again-call Christ from death.[b]
8 But what saith the scripture? The word is nigh in thy mouth, and in thine heart; this is the word of belief, which we preach.
9 That if thou acknowledge in thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believest in thine heart, that God raised him from death [that God raised him from dead], thou shalt be safe.
10 For by heart me believeth to rightwiseness [Forsooth by heart men believeth to rightwiseness], but by mouth acknowledging is made to health.
11 For why the scripture saith, Each that believeth in him, shall not be confounded.
12 And there is no distinction of Jew and of Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich into all, that inwardly call him [that in-call him].
13 For each man, whoever shall inwardly call [whoever shall in-call] the name of the Lord, shall be safe.
20 To victory, the psalm of David. The Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation; the name of God of Jacob defend thee. (To victory, the song of David. May the Lord answer thee in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.)
2 Send he help to thee from the holy place; and from Zion defend he thee.
3 Be he mindful of all thy sacrifice; and thy burnt sacrifice be made fat. (May he remember all thy offerings; yea, may he be pleased with thy rich offerings/with thy burnt sacrifices.)
4 Give he to thee after thine heart; and confirm he all thy counsel. (May he give he thee thy heart’s desire; yea, may he grant success to all thy plans.)
5 We shall be glad in thine health; and we shall be magnified in the name of our God. The Lord [ful]fill all thine askings; (We shall be glad for thy victory/We shall be glad for thy salvation, or thy deliverance; and we shall magnify the name of our God. May the Lord grant all thy requests;)
6 now I have known, that the Lord hath made safe his christ. He shall hear him from his holy heaven; the health of his right hand is in powers. (now I know that the Lord hath saved his anointed king. He shall answer him from his holy heaven; with the saving power of his right hand.)
7 These, that is, adversaries, trust in chariots, and these in horses; but we shall inwardly call in the name of our Lord God. (Some, that is, our adversaries, trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we shall call on the name of the Lord our God.)
8 They be bound, and felled down; but we have risen, and be raised. (They stumbled, and fell; but we have risen, and stand upright.)
9 Lord, make thou safe the king; and hear thou us in the day in which we inwardly call thee. (Lord, save thou the king; yea, answer thou us on the day in which we call to thee.)
2 As the roaring of a lion, so and the dread of a king (and so the king’s wrath); he that stirreth him to ire, sinneth against his (own) soul.
3 It is honour to a man that separateth himself from strivings; but fond men be meddled with despisings. (It is honourable for someone to separate himself from strife, or from arguments; but the foolish shall mix, or mingle, themselves in with arguments.)
2001 by Terence P. Noble