¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(A) in which we will glory^(B) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(C) Is it not you?

Ahijah’s Prophecy Against Jeroboam

14 At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, ² and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah^(A) the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people. ³ Take ten loaves of bread^(B) with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.” ⁴ So Jeroboam’s wife did what he said and went to Ahijah’s house in Shiloh.

Now Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. ⁵ But the Lord had told Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else.”

⁶ So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense?^(C) I have been sent to you with bad news. ⁷ Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:^(D) ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler^(E) over my people Israel. ⁸ I tore^(F) the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right^(G) in my eyes. ⁹ You have done more evil^(H) than all who lived before you.^(I) You have made for yourself other gods, idols^(J) made of metal; you have aroused^(K) my anger and turned your back on me.^(L)

¹⁰ “‘Because of this, I am going to bring disaster^(M) on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free.^[a](N) I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone.^{(O) 11} Dogs^(P) will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds^(Q) will feed on those who die in the country. The Lord has spoken!’

¹² “As for you, go back home. When you set foot in your city, the boy will die. ¹³ All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord, the God of Israel, has found anything good.^(R)

¹⁴ “The Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen.^{[b] 15} And the Lord will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot^(S) Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused^(T) the Lord’s anger by making Asherah^(U) poles.^{[c] 16} And he will give Israel up because of the sins^(V) Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

¹⁷ Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and left and went to Tirzah.^(W) As soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. ¹⁸ They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, as the Lord had said through his servant the prophet Ahijah.

¹⁹ The other events of Jeroboam’s reign, his wars and how he ruled, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel. ²⁰ He reigned for twenty-two years and then rested with his ancestors. And Nadab his son succeeded him as king.

Rehoboam King of Judah^(X)

²¹ Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite.^(Y)

²² Judah^(Z) did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger^(AA) more than those who were before them had done. ²³ They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones^(AB) and Asherah poles^(AC) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.^{(AD) 24} There were even male shrine prostitutes^(AE) in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable^(AF) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

²⁵ In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked^(AG) Jerusalem. ²⁶ He carried off the treasures of the temple^(AH) of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields^(AI) Solomon had made. ²⁷ So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.^{(AJ) 28} Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

²⁹ As for the other events of Rehoboam’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ³⁰ There was continual warfare^(AK) between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. ³¹ And Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite.^(AL) And Abijah^[d] his son succeeded him as king.

Abijah King of Judah^(AM)

15 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah^[e] became king of Judah, ² and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah^(AN) daughter of Abishalom.^[f]

³ He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted^(AO) to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. ⁴ Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp^(AP) in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. ⁵ For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep^(AQ) any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah^(AR) the Hittite.

⁶ There was war^(AS) between Abijah^[g] and Jeroboam throughout Abijah’s lifetime. ⁷ As for the other events of Abijah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. ⁸ And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Asa his son succeeded him as king.

Asa King of Judah^(AT)(AU)

⁹ In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah, ¹⁰ and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maakah^(AV) daughter of Abishalom.

¹¹ Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David^(AW) had done. ¹² He expelled the male shrine prostitutes^(AX) from the land and got rid of all the idols^(AY) his ancestors had made. ¹³ He even deposed his grandmother Maakah^(AZ) from her position as queen mother,^(BA) because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down^(BB) and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁴ Although he did not remove^(BC) the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed^(BD) to the Lord all his life. ¹⁵ He brought into the temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.^(BE)

¹⁶ There was war^(BF) between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns. ¹⁷ Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah^(BG) to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

¹⁸ Asa then took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple^(BH) and of his own palace. He entrusted it to his officials and sent^(BI) them to Ben-Hadad^(BJ) son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. ¹⁹ “Let there be a treaty^(BK) between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”

²⁰ Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. He conquered^(BL) Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah and all Kinnereth in addition to Naphtali. ²¹ When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah^(BM) and withdrew to Tirzah.^{(BN) 22} Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah^(BO) the stones and timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa^(BP) built up Geba^(BQ) in Benjamin, and also Mizpah.^(BR)

²³ As for all the other events of Asa’s reign, all his achievements, all he did and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? In his old age, however, his feet became diseased. ²⁴ Then Asa rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his father David. And Jehoshaphat^(BS) his son succeeded him as king.

Nadab King of Israel

²⁵ Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. ²⁶ He did evil^(BT) in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father^(BU) and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.

²⁷ Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down^(BV) at Gibbethon,^(BW) a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. ²⁸ Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.

²⁹ As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family.^(BX) He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. ³⁰ This happened because of the sins^(BY) Jeroboam had committed and had caused^(BZ) Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.

³¹ As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals^(CA) of the kings of Israel? ³² There was war^(CB) between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

Baasha King of Israel

³³ In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah,^(CC) and he reigned twenty-four years. ³⁴ He did evil^(CD) in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace

3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image^(A) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² He then summoned the satraps,^(B) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials^(C) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. ³ So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

⁴ Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,^(D) this is what you are commanded to do: ⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,^(E) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image^(F) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.^{(G) 6} Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”^(H)

⁷ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.^(I)

⁸ At this time some astrologers^[b](J) came forward and denounced the Jews. ⁹ They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!^{(K) 10} Your Majesty has issued a decree^(L) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,^{(M) 11} and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. ¹² But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(N)—who pay no attention^(O) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”^(P)

¹³ Furious^(Q) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴ and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods^(R) or worship the image^(S) of gold I have set up? ¹⁵ Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god^(T) will be able to rescue^(U) you from my hand?”

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(V) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver^(W) us from it, and he will deliver^(X) us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.^(Y)”

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven^(Z) times hotter than usual ²⁰ and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego^(AA) and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹ So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²² The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,^{(AB) 23} and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

²⁵ He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

²⁶ Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God,^(AC) come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷ and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers^(AD) crowded around them.^(AE) They saw that the fire^(AF) had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel^(AG) and rescued^(AH) his servants! They trusted^(AI) in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.^{(AJ) 29} Therefore I decree^(AK) that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble,^(AL) for no other god can save^(AM) in this way.”

³⁰ Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.^(AN)

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you^(A) was not without results.^{(B) 2} We had previously suffered^(C) and been treated outrageously in Philippi,^(D) as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.^{(E) 3} For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,^(F) nor are we trying to trick you.^{(G) 4} On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(H) We are not trying to please people^(I) but God, who tests our hearts.^{(J) 5} You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(K)—God is our witness.^{(L) 6} We were not looking for praise from people,^(M) not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles^(N) of Christ we could have asserted our authority.^{(O) 7} Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,^{(P) 8} so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God^(Q) but our lives as well.^{(R) 9} Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked^(S) night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone^(T) while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses,^(U) and so is God,^(V) of how holy,^(W) righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,^{(X) 12} encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(Y) of God, who calls^(Z) you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God continually^(AA) because, when you received the word of God,^(AB) which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators^(AC) of God’s churches in Judea,^(AD) which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people^(AE) the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(AF) and the prophets^(AG) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(AH) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(AI) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[b]

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(AJ) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^{(AK) 18} For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(AL) blocked our way.^{(AM) 19} For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(AN) in which we will glory^(AO) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(AP) Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory^(AQ) and joy.