As for their enemies, they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress and suffering.

他们又因暴虐、患难、愁苦，就减少且卑下。

但他们因欺压、患难、愁苦，人口减少而且卑微。

但他们因欺压、患难、愁苦，人口减少而且卑微。

后来他们在压迫、患难和痛苦的煎熬下人口减少，地位卑下。

以后他们因为压迫、患难、愁苦，就人数减少，降为卑微。

后来因着压迫、灾祸和悲哀的事，他们就人数减少，降为卑屈。

他們又因暴虐、患難、愁苦，就減少且卑下。

但他們因欺壓、患難、愁苦，人口減少而且卑微。

但他們因欺壓、患難、愁苦，人口減少而且卑微。

後來他們在壓迫、患難和痛苦的煎熬下人口減少，地位卑下。

以後他們因為壓迫、患難、愁苦，就人數減少，降為卑微。

他們又因受威壓，受患難，有愁苦，而人數減少，地位受屈抑。

後來因著壓迫、災禍和悲哀的事，他們就人數減少，降為卑屈。

厥後復遭暴虐、患難憂苦、民乃減少、而卑抑兮、

復降眚災、加以禍患、俾民數衰少、民心悚懼兮、

民因遭暴虐患難而愁苦、遂至滅少卑微、

主德蕩蕩。無偏無黨。

Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow;

Then the number of God’s people got smaller. They were made humble by trouble, suffering and sorrow.

When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,

When they decrease in number and become impoverished through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,

When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,

When they become few and lowly Because of oppression, misery, and sorrow,

When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,

Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

When they are diminished and are humbled by cruel oppression and sorrow,

Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.

In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border.

Jehoahaz had no army left except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troops and trampled on them like dust.

For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says,‘ Fair Babylon will be like a threshing floor which has been trampled flat for harvest. The time for her to be cut down and harvested will come very soon.’“ King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon devoured me and drove my people out. Like a monster from the deep he swallowed me. He filled his belly with my riches. He made me an empty dish. He completely cleaned me out.”

and they made the Israelites serve rigorously.They made their lives bitter by hard service with mortar and bricks and by all kinds of service in the fields. Every kind of service the Israelites were required to give was rigorous.

Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”So the LORD said to Satan,“ All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.Now the day came when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,and a messenger came to Job, saying,“ The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them,and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I– only I alone– escaped to tell you!”While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said,“ The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants– it has consumed them! And I– only I alone– escaped to tell you!”While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said,“ The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I– only I alone– escaped to tell you!”

Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them.They invaded the land and devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away the sheep, oxen, and donkeys.When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land.Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.

After seven years the woman returned from the land of the Philistines and went to ask the king to give her back her house and field.

But she replied to them,“ Don’t call me‘ Naomi’! Call me‘ Mara’ because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly.I left here full, but the LORD has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me‘ Naomi,’ seeing that the LORD has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?”

In those days no one could travel safely, for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands.One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.

In my self-confidence I said,“ I will never be upended.”O LORD, in your good favor you made me secure. Then you rejected me and I was terrified.

The LORD saw Israel’s intense suffering; everyone was weak and incapacitated and Israel had no deliverer.

Those who are well-fed hire themselves out to earn food, but the hungry no longer lack. Even the barren woman gives birth to seven, but the one with many children withers away.The LORD both kills and gives life; he brings down to the grave and raises up.The LORD impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts.

One day Elisha traveled to Shunem, where a prominent woman lived. She insisted that he stop for a meal. So whenever he was passing through, he would stop in there for a meal.

During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God.God heard their groaning, God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob,

I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor– you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.”’

Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz’s reign.