20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which
most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe
to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were
performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented
long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be
more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And
you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to
Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in
Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you
that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
After Jesus had finished instructing
his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of
Galilee.
2 When
John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his
disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or
should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus
replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The
blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the
deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed
is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As
John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What
did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If
not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who
wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go
out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This
is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I
will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly
I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than
John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom
of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding
it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And
if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever
has ears, let them hear.
16 “To
what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the
marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We
played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For
John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The
Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a
drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right
by her deeds.”
25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king
of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel
two years. 26 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father
and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.
27 Baasha
son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him
down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging
it. 28 Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of
Judah and succeeded him as king.
29 As
soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family. He did not leave
Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of
the Lord given through his servant
Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 This happened because of the sins
Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused
the anger of the Lord, the God of
Israel.
31 As
for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in
the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war
between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.
33 In
the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all
Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did
evil in the eyes of the Lord,
following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused
Israel to commit.
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam
king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah, 10 and he reigned in
Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maakah daughter of
Abishalom.
11 Asa
did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,
as his father David had done. 12 He expelled the male shrine
prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. 13 He
even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because
she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and
burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 Although he did not remove
the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. 15 He brought into the
temple of the Lord the silver and
gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.
16 There
was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns. 17 Baasha
king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from
leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
18 Asa
then took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace. He
entrusted it to his officials and sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the
son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 19 “Let
there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father
and your father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Now break
your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
20 Ben-Hadad
agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of
Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah and all Kinnereth in addition
to Naphtali. 21 When Baasha heard this, he stopped building
Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa issued an order
to all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah the stones and
timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa built up Geba in
Benjamin, and also Mizpah.
23 As
for all the other events of Asa’s reign, all his achievements, all he did and
the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the annals of the
kings of Judah? In his old age, however, his feet became diseased. 24 Then
Asa rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his
father David. And Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king.
