He wisely placed some of his many sons throughout the regions of Judah and Benjamin in the various fortified cities.<n id="1" /> He supplied them with abundant provisions and acquired many wives for them.<n id="2" />p>

Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the <sc>Lordsc>, he handed them over to you!

The <sc>Lordsc> made his kingdom secure;<n id="1" /> all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">The list of Joash&#8217;s<n id="1" /> sons, the many prophetic oracles pertaining to him, and the account of his building project on God&#8217;s temple are included in the record of the Scroll of the Kings.<n id="2" /> His son Amaziah replaced him as king.p>

A huge crowd assembled in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.<n id="1" />

When the edict was issued,<n id="1" /> the Israelites freely contributed<n id="2" /> the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount.

He built royal cities<n id="1" /> and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions.p>

Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was the highest-ranking<n id="1" /> Jew, and he was admired by his numerous relatives.<n id="2" /> He worked enthusiastically<n id="3" /> for the good of his people and was an advocate for the welfare of<n id="4" /> all his descendants.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">O God, because of your great loyal love,p> <p class="poetry">answer me with your faithful deliverance!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds,p> <p class="poetry">they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love,p> <p class="poetry">and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I am stuffed with<n id="2" /> burnt sacrificesp> <p class="poetry">of rams and the fat from steers.p> <p class="poetry">The blood of bulls, lambs, and goatsp> <p class="poetry">I do not want.<n id="3" />p>

From the abundance of milk they produce,<n id="1" /> he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey.

<p class="poetry">Both of these will come upon youp> <p class="poetry">suddenly, in one day!p> <p class="poetry">You will lose your children and be widowed.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">despite<n id="3" /> your many incantationsp> <p class="poetry">and your numerous amulets.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Persist<n id="1" /> in trusting<n id="2" /> your amuletsp> <p class="poetry">and your many incantations,p> <p class="poetry">which you have faithfully recited<n id="3" /> since your youth!p> <p class="poetry">Maybe you will be successful<n id="4" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">maybe you will scare away disaster.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">You are tired out from listening to so much advice.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let them take their stand &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">the ones who see omens in the sky,p> <p class="poetry">who gaze at the stars,p> <p class="poetry">who make monthly predictions &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">let them rescue you from the disaster that is about to overtake you!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but you do not say, &#8216;I give up.&#8217;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">You get renewed energy,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">so you don&#8217;t collapse.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Who is this who comes from Edom,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Who<n id="3" /> is this one wearing royal attire,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">who marches confidently<n id="5" /> because of his great strength?p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;It is I, the one who announces vindication,p> <p class="poetry">and who is able to deliver!&#8221;<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">All your allies have abandoned you.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They no longer have any concern for you.p> <p class="poetry">For I have attacked you like an enemy would.p> <p class="poetry">I have chastened you cruelly.p> <p class="poetry">For your wickedness is so greatp> <p class="poetry">and your sin is so much.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Why do you complain about your injuries,p> <p class="poetry">that your pain is incurable?p> <p class="poetry">I have done all this to youp> <p class="poetry">because your wickedness is so greatp> <p class="poetry">and your sin is so much.p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1490; (<i>Gimeli>)p> <p class="poetry">Judah<n id="1" /> has departed into exilep> <p class="poetry">under<n id="2" /> affliction and harsh oppression.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">She<n id="4" /> lives among the nations;p> <p class="poetry">she has found no resting place.p> <p class="poetry">All who pursued her overtook herp> <p class="poetry">in<n id="5" /> narrow straits.<n id="6" />p>