2 CHRONICLES 23

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Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah  23:1 Now in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. 2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD has spoken concerning the sons of David. 4 This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers, 5 and one third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. 6 But let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of the LORD. 7 The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be killed. Thus be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
    8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions. 9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10 He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!”
Athaliah Murdered    12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the house of the LORD to the people. 13 She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!” 14 Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 15 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there.
Reforms Carried Out    16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD’S people. 17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the LORD under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses--with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David. 19 He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the LORD, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20 He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they placed the king upon the royal throne. 21 So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.

2 CHRONICLES 24

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Young Joash Influenced by Jehoiada  24:1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
Faithless Priests    4 Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house of the LORD. 5 He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the levy fixed by Moses the servant of the LORD on the congregation of Israel for the tent of the testimony?” 7 For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even used the holy things of the house of the LORD for the Baals.
Temple Repaired    8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 They made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the levy fixed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. 10 All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought in their levies and dropped them into the chest until they had finished. 11 It came about whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money. 12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored the house of God according to its specifications and strengthened it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for the service and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
    15 Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death. 16 They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and to God and His house.
    17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them. 18 They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt. 19 Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the LORD; though they testified against them, they would not listen.
Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada    20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you.’” 21 So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, “May the LORD see and avenge!”
Aram Invades and Defeats Judah    23 Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet the LORD delivered a very great army into their hands, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
    25 When they had departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his place.

PROVERBS 14

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Contrast the Upright and the Wicked14:1 The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,

But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,

But the lips of the wise will protect them.

4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,

But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.

5 A trustworthy witness will not lie,

But a false witness utters lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,

But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,

But the foolishness of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,

But among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way which seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,

And the end of joy may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways,

But a good man will be satisfied with his.

15 The naive believes everything,

But the sensible man considers his steps.

16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,

But a fool is arrogant and careless.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

And a man of evil devices is hated.

18 The naive inherit foolishness,

But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will bow down before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,

But those who love the rich are many.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins,

But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.

22 Will they not go astray who devise evil?

But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,

But mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,

But the folly of fools is foolishness.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,

But he who utters lies is treacherous.

26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,

And his children will have refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,

That one may avoid the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,

But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.

29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,

But passion is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,

But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,

But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

But in the hearts of fools it is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,

But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

PSALM 79

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A Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.A Psalm of Asaph.
79:1 O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance;

They have defiled Your holy temple;

They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

2 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,

The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.

3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;

And there was no one to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors,

A scoffing and derision to those around us.

5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever?

Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which do not know You,

And upon the kingdoms which do not call upon Your name.

7 For they have devoured Jacob

And laid waste his habitation.

8 Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us;

Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us,

For we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;

And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake.

10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Let there be known among the nations in our sight,

Vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;

According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.

12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom

The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

13 So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture

Will give thanks to You forever;

To all generations we will tell of Your praise.