2 Chronicles 16

1In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah. He fortified the town of Ramah to block anyone from entering or leaving the territory of King Asa of Judah.

2Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Jehovah and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

2Asa then took silver and gold from the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and his own palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Syria in Damascus with this message:

3There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

3'Let there be a treaty between us, like the one between my father and your father. Look, I am sending you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will stop attacking me.'

4And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.

4Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent his army commanders to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storage cities in the region of Naphtali.

5And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease.

5When Baasha heard about the attacks, he stopped building up Ramah and abandoned his work.

6Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

6Then King Asa brought all the people of Judah to Ramah. They carried away the stones and timber Baasha had been using and used those materials to build up the towns of Geba and Mizpah.

7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.

7At that time, Hanani the prophet came to King Asa of Judah and said, 'Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your power.'

8Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand.

8'Remember the Ethiopians and the Libyans? They had a massive army with many chariots and horsemen. Yet because you relied on the LORD, he handed them over to you.'

9For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

9'The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have acted foolishly in this. From now on, you will be at war.'

10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

10Asa became so angry with the prophet for saying this that he threw Hanani into prison. At the same time, Asa began to treat some of his own people cruelly.

11And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

11The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

12And in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians.

12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a severe foot disease. Even though the disease was very bad, he did not seek help from the LORD but only from his doctors.

13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

13Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign and was buried with his ancestors.

14And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.

14They laid him in the tomb he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They placed him on a bed filled with expensive spices and blended perfumes, and they built a huge funeral fire in his honor.