| New Living Translation (NLT) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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5 During those dark times, it was not safe to travel. Problems troubled the nation on every hand.
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5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.
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6 Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling you with every kind of problem.
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6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.
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7 And now, you men of Judah, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded."
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7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."
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8 When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet, he took courage and removed all the idols in the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, which stood in front of the foyer of the LORD's Temple.
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8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD's temple.
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9 Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. Many had moved to Judah during Asa's reign when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
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9 Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
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10 The people gathered at Jerusalem in late spring, during the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.
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10 They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.
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11 On that day they sacrificed to the LORD some of the animals they had taken as plunder in the battle -- seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep and goats.
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11 At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back.
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12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.
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12 They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.
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13 They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death -- whether young or old, man or woman.
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13 All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.
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14 They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the LORD with trumpets blaring and horns sounding.
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14 They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.
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15 All were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their hearts. Eagerly they sought after God, and they found him. And the LORD gave them rest from their enemies on every side.
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15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
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| Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. (New Living Translation - The Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
