| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. | 1Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. |
| 2He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. | 2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. |
| 3For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. | 3For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law. |
| 4But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. | 4But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them. |
| 5In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. | 5In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. |
| 6One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. | 6Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity. |
| 7But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." | 7But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.” |
| 8When 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. | 8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. |
| 9Then 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. | 9And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. |
| 10They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign. | 10So they gathered together in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. |
| 11At 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. | 11At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from all the plunder they had brought back. |
| 12They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. | 12Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. |
| 13All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. | 13And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. |
| 14They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. | 14They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns. |
| 15All 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. | 15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side. |
| 16King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley. | 16King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley. |
| 17Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. | 17The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days. |
| 18He brought into the temple of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated. | 18And he brought into the house of God the silver and gold articles that he and his father had dedicated. |
| 19There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign. | 19And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign. |
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