15:1 God’s Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded. 15:2 He met 1 Asa and told him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The Lord is with you when you are loyal to him. 2 If you seek him, he will respond to you, 3 but if you reject him, he will reject you. 15:3 For a long time 4 Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law. 15:4 Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them. 5 15:5 In those days 6 no one could travel safely, 7 for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands. 8 15:6 One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil. 9 15:7 But as for you, be strong and don’t get discouraged, 10 for your work will be rewarded.” 11
1 tn Heb “went out before.”
2 tn Heb “when you are with him.”
3 tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”
4 tn Heb “Many days.”
5 tn Heb “and he allowed himself to be found by them.”
6 tn Heb “times.”
7 tn Heb “there was peace for the one going out or the one coming in.”
8 tn Heb “for great confusion was upon all the inhabitants of the lands.”
9 tn Heb “threw them into confusion with all distress.”
10 tn Heb “and let not your hands drop.”
11 tn Heb “for there is payment for your work.”