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Joash Repairs the Temple(A)
24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, and she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what ·the Lord said was right [was pleasing/proper in the eyes/sight of the Lord] ·as long as Jehoiada the priest was alive [L all the days of Jehoiada the priest]. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and Joash ·had [fathered] sons and daughters.
4 Later, Joash decided to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 5 He ·called [assembled; summoned] the priests and the Levites together and said to them, “Go to the towns of Judah and gather the annual offering. Use it to repair the ·Temple [L house] of your God. Do this ·now [quickly; immediately].” But the Levites ·did not hurry [delayed].
6 So King Joash ·called for [summoned] Jehoiada the leading priest and said to him, “Why haven’t you made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax money that Moses, the Lord’s servant, and the people of Israel used for the ·Holy Tent [L tent/tabernacle of the testimony/covenant]?”
7 In the past the sons of wicked Athaliah had broken into the ·Temple [L house] of God and used its ·holy things [sacred/dedicated objects] for worshiping the Baal idols.
8 King Joash commanded that a ·box for contributions [chest] be made. They put it outside, at the gate of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 9 Then the Levites made an ·announcement [proclamation; edict] in Judah and Jerusalem, telling people to bring to the Lord the ·tax money [levy] Moses, the servant of God, had made the Israelites give while they were in the ·desert [wilderness]. 10 All the ·officers [leaders; officials] and people ·were happy to bring [rejoiced and brought] their ·money [levies; contributions], and they put it in the box until the box was full. 11 When the Levites would take the box to the king’s ·officers [officials; accountants], they would see that ·it was full [there was a lot] of money. Then the king’s ·royal secretary [scribe] and the ·leading [chief; high] priest’s officer would come and ·take out the money [empty the chest] and return ·the box [L it] to its place. They did this ·often [L day after day] and gathered much money. 12 King Joash and Jehoiada gave the money to the people who worked on the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. And they hired ·stoneworkers [masons] and carpenters to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They also hired people to work with iron and bronze to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house].
13 The people worked hard, and the work to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house] ·went well [progressed]. They ·rebuilt [restored] the ·Temple [L house] of God ·to be as it was before [according to its original design/specifications], but even stronger. 14 When the workers finished, they brought the money that was left to King Joash and Jehoiada. They used that money to make ·utensils [articles] for the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, ·utensils [articles] for the service in the ·Temple [L house] and for the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], and ·bowls [pans; ladles] and other ·utensils [articles] from gold and silver. Burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] were ·given every day [offered/sacrificed continually] in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord ·while Jehoiada was alive [L all the days of Jehoiada].
15 Jehoiada grew old and ·lived many years [L full of days]. Then he died when he was one hundred thirty years old. 16 Jehoiada was buried in the City of David [C Jerusalem] with the kings, because he had done much good in Judah for God and his ·Temple [L house].
Joash Does Evil
17 After Jehoiada died, the ·officers [officials] of Judah came and bowed down to King Joash, and he listened to ·them [their advice]. 18 The king and these leaders ·stopped worshiping in [abandoned] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, the God of their ·ancestors [fathers]. Instead, they began to ·worship [serve] the Asherah ·idols [poles; 14:3] and other idols. Because ·they did wrong [of their sin/guilt], ·God was angry with [L wrath came upon] the people of Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Even though the Lord sent prophets to the people to turn them back to him and even though the prophets ·warned [testified against] them, they refused to listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God ·entered [came upon] Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. Zechariah stood before the people and said, “·This is what God says [T Thus says God]: ‘Why do you ·disobey [violate; transgress] the Lord’s commands? You will not ·be successful [prosper; succeed]. Because you have ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the Lord, he has also ·left [abandoned; forsaken] you.’”
21 But ·the king and his officers made plans [they conspired; plotted] against Zechariah. At the king’s command they ·threw stones at [stoned] him in the courtyard of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord until he died. 22 King Joash did not remember Jehoiada’s ·kindness [loyalty; devotion] to him, so Joash ·killed [murdered] Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son. ·Before [As] Zechariah died, he said, “May the Lord ·see what you are doing and punish you [see and avenge].”
Aramea Attacks Judah(B)
23 At the ·end [L turning; C spring] of the year, the Aramean army came against Joash. They attacked Judah and Jerusalem, killed all the ·leaders [officials] of the people, and sent all the ·valuable things [plunder; spoil; booty] to their king in Damascus. 24 The Aramean army came with only a small group of men, but the Lord handed over to them a very large army from Judah, because the people of Judah had ·left [abandoned; forsaken] the Lord, the God of their ·ancestors [fathers]. So Joash was ·punished [judged]. 25 When the Arameans left, Joash was badly wounded. His own ·officers [officials] made plans against him because ·he had killed [L of the shed blood of] Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. So they ·killed [murdered] Joash in his own bed. He died and was buried in the City of David [C Jerusalem] but not in the ·graves [tombs] of the kings.
26 The ·officers who made plans [conspirators; plotters] against Joash were Jozabad and Jehozabad. Jozabad was the son of Shimeath, a woman from Ammon. And Jehozabad was the son of Shimrith, a woman from Moab. 27 The story of Joash’s sons, the ·great [or many] ·prophecies [oracles] against him, and how he ·repaired [restored] the ·Temple [L house] of God ·are [L are they not…?] written in the ·book [scroll] of the kings. Joash’s son Amaziah became king in his place.
Amaziah King of Judah(C)
25 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin, and she was from Jerusalem. 2 Amaziah did what ·the Lord said was right [L was pleasing/proper in the eyes/sight of the Lord], but ·he did not really want to obey him [not wholeheartedly]. 3 As soon as Amaziah ·took strong [secured; established] control of the kingdom, he executed the officers who had ·murdered [assassinated] his father the king. 4 But Amaziah did not put to death their children. He obeyed what was written in the law in the ·Book [scroll] of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “·Parents [Fathers] must not be put to death ·when their children do wrong [for sons], and ·children [sons] must not be put to death ·when their parents do wrong [for fathers]. Each must die for his own sins [Deut. 24:16].”
5 Amaziah ·gathered [summoned; assembled] the people of Judah together. He ·grouped [assigned] all the people of Judah and Benjamin by ·families [clans], and he put commanders over groups of a thousand and over groups of a hundred. He ·counted [took a census of] the men who were twenty years old and older. In all there were three hundred thousand soldiers ready to fight and ·skilled [trained] with spears and shields. 6 Amaziah also hired one hundred thousand skilled soldiers from Israel for ·about seventy-five hundred pounds [L one hundred talents] of silver. 7 But a man of God [C prophet] came to Amaziah and said, “My king, don’t let the army of Israel go with you. The Lord is not with Israel or any of the people from the tribe of Ephraim. 8 You can ·make yourself strong for war [fight bravely/well], but God will ·defeat you [L cause you to stumble before the enemy]. He has the power to help you or to ·defeat you [L cause you to stumble].”
9 Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what about the ·seventy-five hundred pounds [L one hundred talents] of silver I paid to the Israelite army?”
The man of God answered, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”
10 So Amaziah ·sent the Israelite [discharged/dismissed the] army back home to Ephraim. ·They were very angry with [L Their anger burned against] the people of Judah and went home ·angry [incensed; in a rage].
11 Then Amaziah ·became very brave [summoned his courage] and led his army to the Valley of Salt in the country of Edom. There Amaziah’s army killed ten thousand ·Edomites [L sons of Seir]. 12 The army of Judah also captured ten thousand alive and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off so that they ·split open [were dashed to pieces].
13 At the same time the Israelite troops that Amaziah had not let fight in the war ·were robbing [raided] towns in Judah. From Samaria to Beth Horon they killed three thousand people and took ·many valuable things [much plunder/spoil/booty].
14 When Amaziah came home after ·defeating [slaughtering] the Edomites, he brought back the ·idols they worshiped [L gods of the sons of Seir] and ·started to worship them himself [set them up as his own gods]. He bowed down to them and ·offered sacrifices [burned incense] to them. 15 The ·Lord was very angry with [L Lord’s anger burned against] Amaziah, ·so [and] he sent a prophet to him who said, “Why have you asked their gods for help? They could not even ·save [rescue; T deliver] their own people from ·you [L your hand]!”
16 As the prophet spoke, Amaziah said to him, “·We never gave you the job of advising the king [L Who made you the royal counselor?]. Stop, or you will be killed.”
The prophet stopped speaking except to say, “I know that God has ·decided [advised/counseled himself; C a play on words since the king had rejected God’s counsel through the prophet] to destroy you because you have done this. You did not listen to my ·advice [counsel].”
17 Amaziah king of Judah ·talked with those who advised him [took counsel; sought advice]. Then he sent a message to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, who was the son of Jehu king of Israel. Amaziah said to Jehoash, “Come, let’s meet face to face [C possibly a call to negotiate, but more likely a challenge to battle].”
18 Then Jehoash king of Israel answered Amaziah king of Judah, “A ·thornbush [thistle] in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree in Lebanon. It said, ‘Let your daughter marry my son.’ But then a wild animal from Lebanon came by, ·walking on and crushing [trampling] the ·thornbush [thistle]. 19 You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, but ·you have become proud [L your heart is lifted up], and you brag. But you stay at home! Don’t ask for trouble, or you and Judah will ·be defeated [L fall].”
20 But Amaziah would not listen. God caused this to happen so that Jehoash would defeat Judah, because Judah ·asked for help from [sought; followed] the gods of Edom. 21 So Jehoash king of Israel went to attack. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. 22 Israel defeated Judah, and every man of Judah ran away to his ·home [L tent]. 23 At Beth Shemesh Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah. (Amaziah was the son of Joash, who was the son of Ahaziah.) Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem. Jehoash broke down the wall of Jerusalem, from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, ·about six hundred feet [L four hundred cubits]. 24 He took all the gold and silver and all the ·utensils [articles] from the ·Temple [L house] of God that Obed-Edom had taken care of. He also took the treasures from the ·palace [L house] and some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.
25 Amaziah son of Joash, the king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the king of Israel. 26 The ·other things Amaziah did as king [rest of the events/acts/history of Amaziah], from ·the beginning to the end [first to last], ·are [L are they not…?] written in the ·book [scroll] of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 When Amaziah ·stopped obeying [turned away from] the Lord, the people in Jerusalem ·made plans [conspired; plotted] against him. So he ·ran away [fled] to the town of Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28 They brought his body back on horses, and he was buried with his ·ancestors [fathers] in the city of ·Judah [or David; C see 2 Kin. 14:20].
Give Your Lives to God
12 ·So [Therefore] brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I ·beg [urge; appeal to] you to offer your ·lives [selves; L bodies] as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be ·only for God [holy] and pleasing to him, which is the ·spiritual [or authentic; true; or appropriate; fitting; or rational; reasonable] way for you to worship. 2 Do not be ·shaped by [conformed to; pressed into a mold by] this ·world [age]; instead be ·changed within [transformed] by ·a new way of thinking [or changing the way you think; L the renewing of your mind]. Then you will be able to ·decide [discern; test and approve] what ·God wants for you [is God’s will]; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. 3 Because God has given me ·a special gift [his grace], I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. [Instead] You must ·decide what you really are [think sensibly; think with sober discernment] ·by [based on; in accordance with] the amount of faith God has given you. 4 [L For just as] Each one of us has ·a [L one] body with many parts, and these parts all have different ·uses [functions]. 5 In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body, and each part belongs to all the other ·parts [L members]. 6 We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us. The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift ·in agreement with the faith [or in proportion to their faith]. 7 Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve. Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach. 8 Whoever has the gift of ·encouraging [exhorting] others should ·encourage [exhort]. Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give ·freely [generously]. Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should ·try hard when he leads [lead diligently/enthusiastically]. Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with ·joy [cheerfulness].
9 Your love must be ·real [sincere; unhypocritical]. ·Hate [Abhor; Despise] what is evil, and ·hold on [cling] to what is good. 10 ·Love [Be devoted to] each other ·like brothers and sisters [with family/brotherly affection]. ·Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves [or Outdo one another in showing honor; or Be eager to show honor to one another]. 11 Do not be ·lazy but work hard [L lacking in zeal], serving the Lord with ·all your heart [L a fervent/eager/enthusiastic spirit]. 12 ·Be joyful because you have hope [L Rejoice in hope]. ·Be patient [Endure] ·when trouble comes [L in suffering/tribulation], and pray ·at all times [faithfully; with persistence/perseverance]. 13 Share with ·God’s people [T the saints] who need help. ·Bring strangers in need into your homes [Pursue/Be eager to show hospitality].
14 ·Wish good for [Bless] those who ·harm [persecute] you; ·wish them well [bless] and do not curse them. 15 ·Be happy [Rejoice] with those who ·are happy [rejoice], and ·be sad [weep] with those who ·are sad [weep]. 16 Live in ·peace [harmony] with each other. Do not be ·proud [arrogant; haughty], but ·make friends with those who seem unimportant [associate with the humble/those of low social status; or be willing to do lowly tasks]. Do not think how ·smart [wise; superior] you are.
17 ·If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him [L Repay no one evil for evil]. ·Try to do [or Consider carefully] what ·everyone thinks is right [others view as good/honorable; L is good/noble before all people]. 18 ·Do your best to [L If possible, from your part,] live in peace with everyone. 19 My friends, do not ·try to punish others when they wrong you [take revenge; avenge yourselves], but ·wait for God to punish them with his anger [L leave room for (God’s) wrath]. [L For] It is written: “·I will punish those who do wrong [L Vengeance is mine]; I will repay them [Deut. 32:35],” says the Lord. 20 But you should do this:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
Doing this will be like ·pouring [heaping] burning coals on his head [Prov. 25:21–22].”
21 Do not let evil ·defeat [conquer; overcome] you, but ·defeat [conquer; overcome] evil by doing good.
19 But, Lord, don’t be far away.
You are my ·strength [or help]; hurry to help me.
20 ·Save [Rescue; T Deliver] me from the sword;
save my life from the dogs.
21 ·Rescue [Save; T Deliver] me from the lion’s mouth;
·save [L answer] me from the horns of the bulls.
22 Then I will ·tell my brothers and sisters about you [L recount your name/reputation to my brothers];
I will praise you in the ·public meeting [assembly; congregation].
23 Praise the Lord, all you who ·respect [fear] him [Prov. 1:7].
All you ·descendants [seed] of Jacob [C Israelites], ·honor [glorify] him;
·fear [revere] him, all you Israelites.
24 He does not ·ignore [despise or disdain] ·those in trouble [L the suffering of the afflicted].
He doesn’t hide his face from them
but listens when they ·call out to him [cry to him for help].
25 Lord, ·I praise you [L from you comes my praise] in the great ·meeting of your people [assembly];
these ·worshipers [L who fear him] will see me ·do what I promised [L fulfill my vows].
26 ·Poor [or Afflicted] people will eat ·until they are full [and be satisfied];
those who ·look to the Lord [L seek him] will praise him.
May your hearts live forever!
27 ·People everywhere [L All the ends of the earth] will remember
and will turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations
will worship him
28 because ·the Lord is King [rule belongs to the Lord],
and he rules the nations.
29 All the ·powerful people [L fat ones] on earth will eat and worship.
Everyone will ·bow down to [kneel before] him,
all who will ·one day die [L go down to the dust and cannot keep themselves alive].
30 The ·people in the future [posterity; seed] will serve him;
they will always be told about the Lord.
31 They will ·tell that he does what is right [recount his righteousness].
People who are not yet born
will hear what God has done.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he ·knows evil when he sees it [or scatters evil with his eyes].
9 No one can say, “I am innocent;
I ·have never done anything wrong [am cleansed from my sin].”
10 The Lord hates both these things:
·dishonest weights and dishonest measures [L stone and stone, ephah and ephah].
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