Whenthe LORDraisedup judgesfor them, the LORDwas with the judgeand deliveredthem from the handof their enemiesallthe daysof the judge;for the LORDwas movedto pityby their groaningbecauseof those who oppressedand afflictedthem.
The LORDwas sorrythat He had mademanon the earth,and He was grievedin His heart.
Then Jehoahazentreatedthe favorof the LORD,and the LORDlistenedto him; for He sawthe oppressionof Israel,howthe kingof Aramoppressedthem.
"Becauseof the devastationof the afflicted,becauseof the groaningof the needy,NowI will arise,"saysthe LORD;"I will sethim in the safetyfor which he longs."
Do return,O LORD;howlong[will it be]? And be sorryfor Your servants.
So Godheardtheir groaning;and GodrememberedHis covenantwith Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob.
And He said,"CertainlyI will be with you, and thisshall be the signto you that it is I who have sentyou: when you have broughtthe peopleout of Egypt,you shall worshipGodat thismountain."
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
Howcan I giveyou up, O Ephraim?How can I surrenderyou, O Israel?Howcan I makeyou like Admah?How can I treatyou like Zeboiim?My heartis turnedoverwithinMe, AllMy compassionsare kindled.
When Godsawtheir deeds,that they turnedfrom their wickedway,then Godrelentedconcerningthe calamitywhichHe had declaredHe would bringupon them. And He did not do[it].
"Whenyou goto warin your landagainstthe adversarywho attacksyou, then you shall soundan alarmwith the trumpets,that you may be rememberedbeforethe LORDyour God,and be savedfrom your enemies.
"For the LORDwill vindicateHis people,And will havecompassionon His servants,WhenHe seesthat [their] strengthis gone,And thereis none[remaining], bondor free.
"Nomanwill [be able to] standbeforeyou allthe daysof your life.Justas I have beenwith Moses,I will be with you; I will not failyou or forsakeyou.
So they putawaythe foreigngodsfrom amongthem and servedthe LORD;and He couldbearthe miseryof Israelnolonger.
So Jephthahcrossedoverto the sonsof Ammonto fightagainst them; and the LORDgavethem into his hand.
But it cameabout when the judgedied,that they would turnbackand actmorecorruptlythantheir fathers,in followingothergodsto servethem and bowdownto them; they did not abandontheir practicesor their stubbornways.
When the sonsof Israelcriedto the LORD,the LORDraisedup a delivererfor the sonsof Israelto deliverthem, Othnielthe sonof Kenaz,Caleb'syoungerbrother.
The angelof the LORDappearedto him and saidto him, "The LORDis with you, O valiantwarrior."
But the LORDsaidto him, "SurelyI will be with you, and you shall defeatMidianas oneman."
