<p class="bodytext">Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: &#8220;Listen to me, you people of Judah<n id="1" /> and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the <sc>Lordsc> your God and you will be safe!<n id="2" /> Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.&#8221;

Now, O <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.<n id="1" />p>

Now, <sc>Lordsc> God, may your promise<n id="1" /> to my father David be realized,<n id="2" /> for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth.

I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn&#8217;t hear even half the story!<n id="1" /> Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me.

Now don&#8217;t let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don&#8217;t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how<n id="1" /> can your gods rescue<n id="2" /> you from my power?&#8217;&#8221;p>