and the headof Ephraimis Samariaand the headof Samariais the sonof Remaliah.Ifyou will not believe,you surelyshall not last."'"
In the fifty-secondyearof Azariahkingof Judah,Pekahsonof RemaliahbecamekingoverIsraelin Samaria,[and reigned] twentyyears.
They roseearlyin the morningand wentout to the wildernessof Tekoa;and when they wentout, Jehoshaphatstoodand said,"Listento me, O Judahand inhabitantsof Jerusalem,putyour trustin the LORDyour Godand you will be established.Putyour trustin His prophetsand succeed."
Woeto the proudcrownof the drunkardsof Ephraim,And to the fadingflowerof its gloriousbeauty,Whichis at the headof the fertilevalleyOf those who are overcomewith wine!
Therefore,as a tongueof fireconsumesstubbleAnd drygrasscollapsesinto the flame,So their rootwill becomelike rotand their blossomblowawayas dust;For they have rejectedthe lawof the LORDof hostsAnd despisedthe wordof the HolyOneof Israel.
Then the LORDspokeagainto Ahaz,saying,
and sayto him, 'Takecareand be calm,havenofearand do not be faintheartedbecauseof thesetwostubsof smolderingfirebrands,on account of the fierceangerof Rezinand Aramand the sonof Remaliah.
for beforethe boyknowshow to cryout 'My fatheror 'My mother,'the wealthof Damascusand the spoilof Samariawill be carriedaway beforethe kingof Assyria."
And allthe peopleknow[it], [That is], Ephraimand the inhabitantsof Samaria,Assertingin prideand in arroganceof heart:
Azariahthe sonof Hoshaiah,and Johananthe sonof Kareah,and allthe arrogantmensaidto Jeremiah,"You are tellinga lie!The LORDour Godhas not sentyou to say,'You are not to enterEgyptto residethere';
Allthisis for the rebellionof JacobAnd for the sinsof the houseof Israel.Whatis the rebellionof Jacob?Is it not Samaria?Whatis the highplaceof Judah?Is it not Jerusalem?
But the centurionwas morepersuadedby the pilotand the captain of the shipthanby what was being saidby Paul.
"Therefore,keep up your courage,men,for I believeGodthat it will turnout exactlyas I have been told.
Quite right,they were broken offfor their unbelief,but you standby your faith.Do not be conceited,but fear;
And withoutfaithit is impossibleto please[Him], for he who comesto Godmustbelievethat He is and [that] He is a rewarderof thosewho seekHim.
The one who believesin the Sonof Godhasthe testimonyin himself;the one who does not believeGodhas madeHim a liar,becausehe has not believedin the testimonythat Godhas givenconcerningHis Son.
