A country has many rulers when its people don’t obey. But an understanding ruler knows how to keep order.

邦国因有罪过，君王就多更换；因有聪明知识的人，国必长存。

地上因有罪过，君王就多更换；因聪明和有见识的人，国必长存。

地上因有罪过，君王就多更换；因聪明和有见识的人，国必长存。

国中有罪，君王常换；国有哲士，长治久安。

国家因有过犯，领袖就经常更换；依赖聪明知识俱备的人，国家才可以长存。

国中因有过犯，就有许多首领争权；但靠着有悟性、有知识的人，国就得以长存。

邦國因有罪過，君王就多更換；因有聰明知識的人，國必長存。

地上因有罪過，君王就多更換；因聰明和有見識的人，國必長存。

地上因有罪過，君王就多更換；因聰明和有見識的人，國必長存。

國中有罪，君王常換；國有哲士，長治久安。

國家因有過犯，領袖就經常更換；依賴聰明知識俱備的人，國家才可以長存。

邦國因有罪過、人君就多更換；因有明達和知識的人、國必長久存立。

國中因有過犯，就有許多首領爭權；但靠著有悟性、有知識的人，國就得以長存。

國有罪惡、則主迭更、人有明哲、則邦恆存、

國亂則主迭更、民良則邦永治。

邦亂則多主迭更、有一明哲具知識者、可長治國、

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

Due to a wrongdoing of a land its leaders are many, But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged.

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

For the transgression of a land many[ are] the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding[ and] knowledge the state[ thereof] shall be prolonged.

When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.

But don’t be upset. And don’t be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me ahead of you to save many lives.For two years now, there hasn’t been enough food in the land. And for the next five years, people won’t be plowing or gathering crops.But God sent me ahead of you to keep some of you alive on earth. He sent me here to save your lives by an act of mighty power.“ So then, it wasn’t you who sent me here. It was God. He made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me master of Pharaoh’s entire house. God made me ruler of the whole land of Egypt.

So I became angry and gave you a king. Then I took him away from you.

Your people will rebuild the cities that were destroyed long ago. And you will build again on the old foundations. You will be called One Who Repairs Broken Walls. You will be called One Who Makes City Streets Like New Again.

The people of the land went and got Jehoahaz. He was the son of Josiah. The people made Jehoahaz king in Jerusalem in place of his father.Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months.The king of Egypt removed him from his throne in Jerusalem. The king of Egypt made the people of Judah pay him a huge tax. The tax was almost four tons of silver and 75 pounds of gold.Necho, the king of Egypt, made Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem. Eliakim was a brother of Jehoahaz. Necho changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Necho took Eliakim’s brother Jehoahaz with him to Egypt.Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord his God.Nebuchadnezzar attacked him. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. He put Jehoiakim in bronze chains. And he took him to Babylon.Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon objects from the Lord’ s temple. He put them in his own temple there.The other events of Jehoiakim’s rule are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. He did things the Lord hated. Those things and everything that happened to him are also written in those records. Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin became the next king after him.Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him. He brought him to Babylon. He also brought things of value from the Lord’ s temple. He made Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle.Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years.He did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord his God. He didn’t pay any attention to the message the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.

Elah became king of Israel. It was in the 26th year that Asa was king of Judah. Elah ruled in Tirzah for two years. He was the son of Baasha.Zimri was one of Elah’s officials. He commanded half of Elah’s chariot drivers. He made plans against Elah. Elah was in Tirzah at the time. He was getting drunk in the home of Arza. Arza was in charge of the palace at Tirzah.Zimri came in. He struck Elah down and killed him. It was in the 27th year of Asa, the king of Judah. Zimri became the next king after Elah.As soon as Zimri was seated on the throne as king, he killed off Baasha’s whole family. He didn’t even spare one male. It didn’t matter whether it was a relative or a friend.So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha. That’s what the Lord had said would happen. He had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet.Baasha and his son Elah had committed all kinds of sin. They had also caused Israel to commit the same sins. So Israel made the Lord very angry. They did it by worshiping worthless statues of gods. The Lord is the God of Israel.The other events of Elah’s rule are written down. Everything he did is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.Zimri ruled in Tirzah for seven days. It was in the 27th year that Asa was king of Judah. The army of Israel had set up camp near Gibbethon. It was a Philistine town.The Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had made plans against King Elah. They also heard that Zimri had murdered him. So they announced that Omri was king over Israel. He was the commander of the army. They made him king that day in the camp.Then Omri and all his men pulled back from Gibbethon. They marched to Tirzah and surrounded it. They attacked it and captured it.Zimri saw that they had taken over the city. So he went into the safest place in the royal palace. He set the palace on fire all around him. He died therebecause of the sins he had committed. He had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He had lived the way Jeroboam had lived. He had committed the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.The other events of Zimri’s rule are written down. The way he turned against King Elah and killed him is written down. All these things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.The Israelites divided up into two groups. Half of them wanted Tibni to be king. He was the son of Ginath. The other half wanted Omri.But Omri’s followers were stronger than those of Tibni, the son of Ginath. So Tibni died. And Omri began to rule.Omri became king of Israel. It was in the 31st year that Asa was king of Judah. Omri ruled for 12 years. He ruled in Tirzah for six of those years.He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer. He weighed out 150 pounds of silver for it. Then he built a city on the hill. He called it Samaria. He named it after Shemer. Shemer had owned the hill before him.But Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He sinned more than all the kings who had ruled before him.He lived the way Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had lived. He committed the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit. Israel made the Lord very angry. They did it by worshiping worthless statues of gods. The Lord is the God of Israel.The other events of Omri’s rule are written down. Everything he did and the things he accomplished are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.Omri joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in Samaria. Omri’s son Ahab became the next king after him.Ahab became king of Israel. It was in the 38th year that Asa was king of Judah. Ahab ruled over Israel in Samaria for 22 years. He was the son of Omri.

King Hezekiah cried out in prayer to God in heaven. He prayed about the problem Jerusalem was facing. So did Isaiah the prophet. He was the son of Amoz.The Lord sent an angel. The angel wiped out all the enemy’s fighting men, commanders and officers. He put an end to them right there in the camp of the Assyrian king. So Sennacherib went back to his own land in shame. He went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons, the people closest to him, killed him with their swords.So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He saved them from the power of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. He also saved them from all their other enemies. He took care of them on every side.Many people brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord. They brought expensive gifts for Hezekiah, the king of Judah. From then on, all the nations thought well of him.In those days Hezekiah became sick. He knew he was about to die. So he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord answered him. He gave him a miraculous sign.But Hezekiah’s heart was proud. He didn’t give thanks for the many kind things the Lord had done for him. So the Lord became angry with him. He also became angry with Judah and Jerusalem.Then Hezekiah had a change of heart. He was sorry he had been proud. The people of Jerusalem were also sorry they had sinned. So the Lord wasn’t angry with them as long as Hezekiah was king.

Here is what the Lord who rules over all is about to do. The Lord will take away from Jerusalem and Judah supplies and help alike. He will take away all the supplies of food and water.He’ll take away heroes and soldiers. He’ll take away judges and prophets. He’ll take away fortune tellers and elders.He’ll take away captains of groups of 50 men. He’ll take away government leaders. He’ll take away advisers, skilled workers and those who are clever at doing evil magic.The Lord will make mere youths their leaders. Children will rule over them.People will treat one another badly. They will fight against one another. They will fight against their neighbors. Young people will attack old people. Ordinary people will attack those who are more important.A man will grab one of his brothers in his father’s house. He will say,“ You have a coat. So you be our leader. Take charge of all these broken- down buildings!”But at that time the brother will cry out,“ I can’t help you. I don’t have any food or clothing in my house. Don’t make me the leader of these people.”

Zechariah became king of Israel in Samaria. It was in the 38th year that Uzziah was king of Judah. Zechariah ruled for six months. He was the son of Jeroboam, the son of Jehoash.Zechariah did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did what the kings of Israel before him had done. He didn’t turn away from the sins Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had committed. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.Shallum made evil plans against Zechariah. He attacked Zechariah in front of the people and killed him. Then he became the next king after him. Shallum was the son of Jabesh.The other events of the rule of Zechariah are written down. They are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.What happened to Zechariah is what the Lord said would happen. He had spoken that message to Jehu. The Lord had said,“ Your sons after you will sit on the throne of Israel. They will rule until the time of your children’s grandchildren.”( 2 Kings 10:30)Shallum became king of Israel. It was in the 39th year that Uzziah was king of Judah. Shallum ruled in Samaria for one month. He was the son of Jabesh.Menahem went from Tirzah up to Samaria. There he attacked Shallum, the son of Jabesh. Menahem killed him and became the next king after him. Menahem was the son of Gadi.The other events of Shallum’s rule are written down. The evil things he planned are written down. All these things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.At that time Menahem started out from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He attacked everyone in the city and the area around it. That’s because they refused to open their gates for him. He destroyed Tiphsah. He ripped open all their pregnant women.Menahem became king of Israel. It was in the 39th year that Uzziah was king of Judah. Menahem ruled in Samaria for ten years. He was the son of Gadi.Menahem did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire rule he didn’t turn away from the sins Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had committed. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.Then Tiglath- Pileser marched into the land of Israel. He was king of Assyria. Menahem gave him 38 tons of silver to get his help. He wanted to make his control over the kingdom stronger.Menahem forced Israel to give him that money. Every wealthy person had to give him 20 ounces of silver. All of it went to the king of Assyria. So he pulled his troops back. He didn’t stay in the land anymore.The other events of the rule of Menahem are written down. Everything he did is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.Menahem joined the members of his family who had already died. Menahem’s son Pekahiah became the next king after him.Pekahiah became king of Israel in Samaria. It was in the 50th year that Uzziah was king of Judah. Pekahiah ruled for two years. He was the son of Menahem.Pekahiah did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. He didn’t turn away from the sins Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had committed. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.One of Pekahiah’s chief officers was Pekah. He was the son of Remaliah. Pekah made evil plans against Pekahiah. He took 50 men from Gilead with him and killed Pekahiah. Pekah also killed Argob and Arieh. He killed all of them in the safest place in the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah. He became the next king after him.The other events of the rule of Pekahiah are written down. Everything he did is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.Pekah became king of Israel in Samaria. It was in the 52nd year that Uzziah was king of Judah. Pekah ruled for 20 years. He was the son of Remaliah.Pekah did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. He didn’t turn away from the sins Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had committed. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.During the rule of Pekah, the king of Israel, Tiglath- Pileser marched into the land again. He was king of Assyria. He captured the towns of Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He also captured the lands of Gilead and Galilee. That included the whole territory of Naphtali. He took the people away from their own land. He sent them off to Assyria.Then Hoshea made evil plans against Pekah, the son of Remaliah. Hoshea was the son of Elah. Hoshea attacked Pekah and killed him. Then Hoshea became the next king after him. It was in the 20th year of the rule of Jotham, the son of Uzziah.The other events of the rule of Pekah are written down. Everything he did is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.

So, Your Majesty, I hope you will accept my advice. Stop being sinful. Do what is right. Give up your evil practices. Show kindness to those who are being treated badly. Then perhaps things will continue to go well with you.”

What you decide to do will be done. Light will shine on the path you take.When people are brought low you will say,‘ Lift them up!’ Then God will help them.He’ll even save those who are guilty. He’ll save them because your hands are clean.”

He killed Nadab in the third year that Asa was king of Judah. Baasha became the next king after Nadab.

A certain man lived in that city. He was poor but wise. He used his wisdom to save the city. But no one remembered that poor man.

Nadab became king of Israel. It was in the second year that Asa was king of Judah. Nadab ruled over Israel for two years. He was the son of Jeroboam.