¹In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. ²Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lᴏʀᴅ all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. ³But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. ⁴And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ—each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ, ⁵let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.” ⁶Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple. ⁷So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.” ⁸And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple. ⁹Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ. ¹⁰So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ. ¹¹Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ, ¹²and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple. ¹³However there were not made for the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ. ¹⁴But they gave that to the workmen, and they repaired the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ with it. ¹⁵Moreover they did not require an account from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to be paid to workmen, for they dealt faithfully. ¹⁶The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ. It belonged to the priests. ¹⁷Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it; then Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. ¹⁸And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lᴏʀᴅ and in the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Syria. Then he went away from Jerusalem. ¹⁹Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? ²⁰And his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla. ²¹For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him. So he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

¹You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. ⁸Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. ¹²If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. ¹³If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. ¹⁴Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” ²⁰But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²²Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

¹Then the Lᴏʀᴅ said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lᴏʀᴅ for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” ²So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. ³And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.” ⁴For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. ⁵Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lᴏʀᴅ their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lᴏʀᴅ and His goodness in the latter days.

¹Hear the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ, You children of Israel, For the Lᴏʀᴅ brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. ²By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. ³Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. ⁴“Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. ⁵Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. ⁶My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. ⁷“The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. ⁸They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. ⁹And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. ¹⁰For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the Lᴏʀᴅ. ¹¹“Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. ¹²My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, And their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, And they have played the harlot against their God. ¹³They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, And your brides commit adultery. ¹⁴“I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, Nor your brides when they commit adultery; For the men themselves go apart with harlots, And offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled. ¹⁵“Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, Nor go up to Beth Aven, Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lᴏʀᴅ lives’— ¹⁶“For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the Lᴏʀᴅ will let them forage Like a lamb in open country. ¹⁷“Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone. ¹⁸Their drink is rebellion, They commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor. ¹⁹The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, And they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

¹Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ! ²Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! ³They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. ⁴You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. ⁵Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! ⁶Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. ⁷I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. ⁸I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! ⁹How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. ¹⁰With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! ¹²Blessed are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ! Teach me Your statutes! ¹³With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. ¹⁵I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. ¹⁶I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. ¹⁷Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. ¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. ¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. ²⁰My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. ²¹You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. ²²Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. ²³Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. ²⁴Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. ²⁵My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. ²⁶I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. ²⁷Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. ²⁸My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. ²⁹Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. ³⁰I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. ³¹I cling to Your testimonies; O Lᴏʀᴅ, do not put me to shame! ³²I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. ³³Teach me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. ³⁴Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. ³⁶Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. ³⁷Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. ³⁸Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. ³⁹Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. ⁴⁰Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness. ⁴¹Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lᴏʀᴅ— Your salvation according to Your word. ⁴²So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. ⁴³And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. ⁴⁴So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. ⁴⁵And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. ⁴⁶I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. ⁴⁷And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. ⁴⁸My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. ⁴⁹Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. ⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. ⁵¹The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. ⁵²I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And have comforted myself. ⁵³Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. ⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. ⁵⁵I remember Your name in the night, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And I keep Your law. ⁵⁶This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts. ⁵⁷You are my portion, O Lᴏʀᴅ; I have said that I would keep Your words. ⁵⁸I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. ⁵⁹I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. ⁶⁰I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. ⁶¹The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. ⁶²At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ⁶³I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. ⁶⁴The earth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁵You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. ⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. ⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. ⁶⁸You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁹The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. ⁷⁰Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. ⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. ⁷²The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. ⁷³Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. ⁷⁴Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. ⁷⁵I know, O Lᴏʀᴅ, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. ⁷⁶Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. ⁷⁷Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. ⁷⁸Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. ⁷⁹Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. ⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. ⁸¹My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. ⁸²My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” ⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. ⁸⁴How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? ⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. ⁸⁶All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! ⁸⁷They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. ⁸⁸Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. ⁸⁹Forever, O Lᴏʀᴅ, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. ⁹¹They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. ⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. ⁹³I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. ⁹⁴I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. ⁹⁵The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. ⁹⁶I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. ⁹⁷Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. ⁹⁸You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. ⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. ¹⁰¹I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. ¹⁰²I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. ¹⁰³How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. ¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. ¹⁰⁷I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. ¹⁰⁸Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And teach me Your judgments. ¹⁰⁹My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. ¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. ¹¹¹Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. ¹¹²I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end. ¹¹³I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. ¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. ¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God! ¹¹⁶Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. ¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. ¹¹⁸You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. ¹¹⁹You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. ¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments. ¹²¹I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. ¹²²Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. ¹²³My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. ¹²⁴Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. ¹²⁵I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. ¹²⁶It is time for You to act, O Lᴏʀᴅ, For they have regarded Your law as void. ¹²⁷Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! ¹²⁸Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. ¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. ¹³⁰The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. ¹³¹I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. ¹³²Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. ¹³³Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. ¹³⁴Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. ¹³⁵Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. ¹³⁶Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law. ¹³⁷Righteous are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And upright are Your judgments. ¹³⁸Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. ¹³⁹My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. ¹⁴⁰Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. ¹⁴¹I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. ¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. ¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. ¹⁴⁴The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. ¹⁴⁵I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lᴏʀᴅ! I will keep Your statutes. ¹⁴⁶I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. ¹⁴⁷I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. ¹⁴⁸My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. ¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lᴏʀᴅ, revive me according to Your justice. ¹⁵⁰They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. ¹⁵¹You are near, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And all Your commandments are truth. ¹⁵²Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever. ¹⁵³Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. ¹⁵⁴Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. ¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. ¹⁵⁶Great are Your tender mercies, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Revive me according to Your judgments. ¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. ¹⁵⁸I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word. ¹⁵⁹Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your lovingkindness. ¹⁶⁰The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. ¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. ¹⁶²I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. ¹⁶³I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. ¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. ¹⁶⁶Lᴏʀᴅ, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. ¹⁶⁷My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You. ¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before You, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Give me understanding according to Your word. ¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. ¹⁷¹My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. ¹⁷²My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. ¹⁷³Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. ¹⁷⁴I long for Your salvation, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And Your law is my delight. ¹⁷⁵Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. ¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.