Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what about the money I already paid to the Israelite army?” The man of God answered, “The Lord has plenty. He can give you much more than that!”
Who on Zion {\cf2\super [77]} saves Israel?\par \{It is the Lord who saves Israel!\}\par The Lord’s people were taken away\par and forced to be prisoners.\par But the Lord will bring his people back.\par Then Jacob (Israel) will be very happy.\par
I wish someone (God) on Mount Zion\par would bring victory to Israel!\par At the time God brings his people back from exile. {\cf2\super [320]} \par Jacob will rejoice.\par Israel will be very happy.\par
Speak kindly to Jerusalem!\par Tell Jerusalem,\par ‘Your time of service is finished.\par You have paid the price for your sins.’”\par The Lord punished Jerusalem—\par twice for every sin she did.\par
“In the past other people shamed you and said bad things to you. You were shamed much more than any other people. So in your land you will get two times more than other people. You will get happiness that continues forever.
All of the people began talking about killing Joshua and Caleb with stones. But the Glory of the Lord [182] appeared over the Meeting Tent [183] where all the people could see it.
Remember the Lord your God. Remember that he is the One who gives you power to do those things! Why does the Lord do this? Because he wants to keep the Agreement that he made with your ancestors [55] —just like he is doing today!
We say that those people who accepted their troubles with patience are now happy. You have heard about Job’s patience. {\cf2\super [28]} You know that after all Job’s trouble, the Lord helped him. This shows that the Lord is full of mercy and is kind.
The Lord raises poor people from the dust.
He takes away their sadness. [22] The Lord makes poor people important.
He seats them with princes
and at the places for honored guests.
The Lord made the whole world!
And the whole world belongs to him! [23]