<p class="bodytext">Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin who carried small shields and were adept archers; they were all skilled warriors.

The <sc>Lordsc> sent a messenger<n id="1" /> and he wiped out all the soldiers, princes, and officers in the army of the king of Assyria. So Sennacherib<n id="2" /> returned home humiliated.<n id="3" /> When he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons<n id="4" /> struck him down with the sword.

He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisers, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the <sc>Lordsc> my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.p>

Nehemiah son of Azbuk, head of a half-district of Beth Zur, worked after him as far as the tombs of David and the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, our God &#8211; the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity<n id="1" /> &#8211; do not regard as inconsequential<n id="2" /> all the hardship that has befallen us &#8211; our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people &#8211; from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; a well-written song<n id="2" /> by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: &#8220;David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.&#8221;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Why do you boast about your evil plans,<n id="4" /> O powerful man?p> <p class="poetry">God&#8217;s loyal love protects me all day long!<n id="5" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Again,<n id="1" /> I observed this on the earth:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the race is not always<n id="3" /> won by the swiftest,p> <p class="poetry">the battle is not always won by the strongest;p> <p class="poetry">prosperity<n id="4" /> does not always belong to those who are the wisest,p> <p class="poetry">wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning,p> <p class="poetry">nor does success<n id="5" /> always come to those with the most knowledge &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">for time and chance may overcome<n id="6" /> them all.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">Indeed,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;captives will be taken from a warrior;p> <p class="poetry">spoils will be rescued from a conqueror.p> <p class="poetry">I will oppose your adversaryp> <p class="poetry">and I will rescue your children.p>

<p class="poetry">But the <sc>Lordsc> is with me to help me like an awe-inspiring warrior.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Therefore those who persecute me will fail and will not prevail over me.p> <p class="poetry">They will be thoroughly disgraced because they did not succeed.p> <p class="poetry">Their disgrace will never be forgotten.p>

<p class="poetry">For I will rouse into action and bring against Babylonp> <p class="poetry">a host of mighty nations<n id="1" /> from the land of the north.p> <p class="poetry">They will set up their battle lines against her.p> <p class="poetry">They will come from the north and capture her.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Their arrows will be like a skilled soldier<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">who does not return from the battle empty-handed.<n id="4" />p>