When it was reportedto the houseof David,saying,"The Arameanshave campedin Ephraim,"his heartand the heartsof his peopleshookas the treesof the forestshakewith the wind.
"Your houseand your kingdomshall endurebeforeMe forever;your throneshall be establishedforever."'"
(but he will haveonetribe,for the sakeof My servantDavidand for the sakeof Jerusalem,the citywhichI have chosenfrom allthe tribesof Israel),
When allIsrael[saw] that the kingdid not listento them, the peopleansweredthe king,saying,"Whatportiondo we have in David?[We have] noinheritancein the sonof Jesse;To your tents,O Israel!Nowlookafter your own house,David!"So Israeldepartedto their tents.
He criedagainstthe altarby the wordof the LORD,and said,"O altar,altar,thussaysthe LORD,'Behold,a sonshall be bornto the houseof David,Josiahby name;and on you he shall sacrificethe priestsof the highplaceswho burnincenseon you, and humanbonesshall be burnedon you.'"
Then Amaziahdismissedthem, the troopswhichcameto him from Ephraim,to gohome;so their angerburnedagainst Judahand they returnedhomein fierceanger.
Then someof the headsof the sonsof Ephraim--Azariahthe sonof Johanan,Berechiahthe sonof Meshillemoth,Jehizkiahthe sonof Shallum,and Amasathe sonof Hadlai--aroseagainstthose who were comingfrom the battle,
In the LORDI takerefuge;Howcan you sayto my soul,"Flee[as] a birdto your mountain;
The wickedfleewhen nooneis pursuing,But the righteousare boldas a lion.
Then the jealousyof Ephraimwill depart,And those who harassJudahwill be cutoff;Ephraimwill not be jealousof Judah,And Judahwill not harassEphraim.
"Then I will setthe keyof the houseof Davidon his shoulder,When he opensnoonewill shut,When he shutsnoonewill open.
"Therefore their inhabitantswere shortof strength,They were dismayedand putto shame;They were [as] the vegetationof the fieldand [as] the greenherb,[As] grasson the housetopsis scorchedbeforeit is grownup.
For I will defendthiscityto saveit for My own sakeand for My servantDavid'ssake.'"
"Yetthere will be a tenthportionin it, And it will againbe [subject] to burning,Like a terebinthor an oakWhosestumpremains whenit is felled.The holyseedis its stump."
Then he said,"Listennow,O houseof David!Is it tooslighta thingfor you to trythe patienceof men,that you will trythe patienceof my Godas well?
"The LORDwill bringon you, on your people,and on your father'shousesuchdaysas have nevercomesincethe daythat Ephraimseparatedfrom Judah,the kingof Assyria."
BecauseAram,[with] Ephraimand the sonof Remaliah,has plannedevilagainstyou, saying,
"You are not to say,[It is] a conspiracy!'In regard to allthat thispeoplecalla conspiracy,And you are not to fearwhatthey fearor be in dreadof [it].
And allthe peopleknow[it], [That is], Ephraimand the inhabitantsof Samaria,Assertingin prideand in arroganceof heart:
O houseof David,thussaysthe LORD:"Administerjusticeevery morning;And deliverthe [person] who has been robbedfrom the powerof [his] oppressor,That My wrathmay not goforthlike fireAnd burnwith noneto extinguish[it], Becauseof the evilof their deeds.
Ephraimfeedson wind,And pursuesthe eastwindcontinually;He multipliesliesand violence.Moreover, he makesa covenantwith Assyria,And oilis carriedto Egypt.
When Herodthe kingheard[this], he was troubled,and allJerusalemwith him.
