he sent his son Hadoram<n id="1" /> to King David to extend his best wishes<n id="2" /> and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer.<n id="3" /> He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze.<n id="4" />

Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man.<n id="1" /> I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side.<n id="2" /> Indeed, Solomon<n id="3" /> will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.<n id="4" />

Micaiah<n id="1" /> replied, &#8220;I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the <sc>Lordsc> said, &#8216;They have no master. They should go home in peace.&#8217;&#8221;

&#8216;Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace.<n id="1" /> You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.&#8217;&#8221;&#8217;&#8221; Then they reported back to the king.p>

Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters in marriage for your sons. Do not ever seek their peace or welfare, so that you may be strong and may eat the good of the land and may leave it as an inheritance for your children<n id="1" /> forever.&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">For a child has been<n id="1" /> born to us,p> <p class="poetry">a son has been given to us.p> <p class="poetry">He shoulders responsibilityp> <p class="poetry">and is called:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Extraordinary Strategist,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Mighty God,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Everlasting Father,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">Prince of Peace.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">His dominion will be vast<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He will rule on David&#8217;s thronep> <p class="poetry">and over David&#8217;s kingdom,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">establishing it<n id="4" /> and strengthening itp> <p class="poetry">by promoting justice and fairness,<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">from this time forward and forevermore.p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s intense devotion to his people<n id="6" /> will accomplish this.p>

<p class="poetry">Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,p> <p class="poetry">instead of iron, I will bring you silver,p> <p class="poetry">instead of wood, I will bring you<n id="1" /> bronze,p> <p class="poetry">instead of stones, I will bring you<n id="2" /> iron.p> <p class="poetry">I will make prosperity<n id="3" /> your overseer,p> <p class="poetry">and vindication your sovereign ruler.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For this is what the <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river,p> <p class="poetry">the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You will nurse from her breast<n id="2" /> and be carried at her side;p> <p class="poetry">you will play on her knees.p>

<p class="poetry">A destructive army<n id="1" /> will come marchingp> <p class="poetry">over the hilltops in the desert.p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> will use them as his destructive weapon<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">against<n id="3" /> everyone from one end of the land to the other.p> <p class="poetry">No one will be safe.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Then I said, &#8220;Oh, Lord <sc>Godsc>,<n id="1" /> look!<n id="2" /> The prophets are telling them that you said,<n id="3" /> &#8216;You will not experience war or suffer famine.<n id="4" /> I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this land.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Then I said,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;<sc>Lordsc>,<n id="1" /> have you completely rejected the nation of Judah?p> <p class="poetry">Do you despise<n id="2" /> the city of Zion?p> <p class="poetry">Why have you struck us with such forcep> <p class="poetry">that we are beyond recovery?<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">We hope for peace, but nothing good has come of it.p> <p class="poetry">We hope for a time of relief from our troubles, but experience terror.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Moreover I, the <sc>Lordsc>, tell you:<n id="1" /> &#8216;Do not go into a house where they are having a funeral meal. Do not go there to mourn and express your sorrow for them. For I have stopped showing them my good favor,<n id="2" /> my love, and my compassion. I, the <sc>Lordsc>, so affirm it!<n id="3" />

<p class="poetry">I<n id="1" /> hear many whispering words of intrigue against me.p> <p class="poetry">Those who would cause me terror are everywhere!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">They are saying, &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s publicly denounce him!&#8221;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">All my so-called friends<n id="4" /> are just watching forp> <p class="poetry">something that would lead to my downfall.<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">They say, &#8220;Perhaps he can be enticed into slipping up,p> <p class="poetry">so we can prevail over<n id="6" /> him and get our revenge on him.p>

For I know what I have planned for you,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" /> &#8216;I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you<n id="2" /> a future filled with hope.<n id="3" />

All the nations will hear about all the good things which I will do to them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praise before them for the joy that I bring it. The nations will tremble in awe at all the peace and prosperity that I will provide for it.&#8217;<n id="1" />p>

You will die a peaceful death. They will burn incense at your burial just as they did at the burial of your ancestors, the former kings who preceded you.<n id="1" /> They will mourn for you, saying, &#8220;Poor, poor master!&#8221;<n id="2" /> Indeed, you have my own word on this.<n id="3" /> I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!&#8217;&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

All the women who are left in the royal palace of Judah will be led out to the officers of the king of Babylon. They will taunt you saying,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Your trusted friends misled you;p> <p class="poetry">they have gotten the best of you.p> <p class="poetry">Now that your feet are stuck in the mud,p> <p class="poetry">they have turned their backs on you.&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

He will set fire<n id="1" /> to the temples of the gods of Egypt. He will burn their gods or carry them off as captives.<n id="2" /> He will pick Egypt clean like a shepherd picks the lice from his clothing.<n id="3" /> He will leave there unharmed.<n id="4" />

<p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8220;The prophets who mislead my peoplep> <p class="poetry">are as good as dead.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">If someone gives them enough to eat,p> <p class="poetry">they offer an oracle of peace.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">But if someone does not give them food,p> <p class="poetry">they are ready to declare war on him.<n id="3" />p>