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

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;

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.

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

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

In those days the Lord began to make the kingdom of Israel smaller. Hazael gained control over many parts of Israel. He gained control over all their territory

The army of Jehoahaz had almost nothing left. All it had was 50 horsemen, 10 chariots and 10,000 soldiers on foot. The king of Aram had destroyed the rest of them. He had made them like dust at threshing time.

The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ The city of Babylon is like a threshing floor when cattle are walking on it. The time to destroy it will soon come.”The people of Jerusalem say,“ Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has destroyed us. He has thrown us into a panic. He has emptied us out like a jar. Like a snake he has swallowed us up. He has filled his stomach with our rich food. Then he has spit us out of his mouth.”

They made them work hard. They didn’t show them any pity.The people suffered because of their hard labor. The slave drivers forced them to work with bricks and mud. And they made them do all kinds of work in the fields. The Egyptians didn’t show them any pity at all. They made them work very hard.

Haven’t you guarded him and his family? Haven’t you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land.But now reach out your hand and strike down everything he has. Then I’m sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he’ll do it right in front of you.”The Lord said to Satan,“ All right. I am handing everything he has over to you. But do not touch the man himself.” Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way.One day Job’s sons and daughters were at their oldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.During that time a messenger came to Job. He said,“ The oxen were plowing. The donkeys were eating grass near them.Then the Sabeans attacked us and carried off the animals. They killed some of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”While he was still speaking, a second messenger came. He said,“ God sent lightning from the sky. It struck the sheep and killed them. It burned up some of the servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”While he was still speaking, a third messenger came. He said,“ The Chaldeans separated themselves into three groups. They attacked your camels and carried them off. They killed the rest of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

Each year the people planted their crops. When they did, the Midianites came into the country and attacked it. So did the Amalekites and other tribes from the east.They camped on the land. They destroyed the crops all the way to Gaza. They didn’t spare any living thing for Israel. They didn’t spare sheep or cattle or donkeys.The Midianites came up with their livestock and tents. They came like huge numbers of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels. They came into the land to destroy it.The Midianites made the Israelites very poor. So they cried out to the Lord for help.

The seven years passed. Then she came back from the land of the Philistines. She went to the king of Israel. She wanted to ask him to get her house and land back.

“ Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them.“ Call me Mara. The Mighty One has made my life very bitter.I was full when I went away. But the Lord has brought me back empty. So why are you calling me Naomi? The Lord has made me suffer. The Mighty One has brought trouble on me.”

In those days it wasn’t safe to travel around. The people who lived in all the areas of the land were having a lot of trouble.One nation was crushing another. One city was crushing another. That’s because God was causing them to suffer terribly.

When I felt safe, I said,“ I will always be secure.”Lord, when you gave me your help, you made Mount Zion stand firm. But when you took away your help, I was terrified.

The Lord had seen how much everyone in Israel was suffering. It didn’t matter whether they were slaves or free. They didn’t have anyone to help them.

Those who used to be full have to work for food. But those who used to be hungry aren’t hungry anymore. The woman who couldn’t have children has seven of them now. But the woman who has had many children is sad now because hers have died.“ The Lord causes people to die. He also gives people life. He brings people down to the grave. He also brings people up from death.The Lord makes people poor. He also makes people rich. He brings people down. He also lifts people up.

One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A rich woman lived there. She begged him to stay and have a meal. So every time he came by, he stopped there to eat.

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The people of Israel groaned because they were slaves. They also cried out to God. Their cry for help went up to him.God heard their groans. He remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

There I will provide everything you need. There are still five years to come when there won’t be enough food. If you don’t come down here, you and your family and everyone who belongs to you will lose everything.” ’

Hazael, the king of Aram, treated Israel badly. He did it the whole time Jehoahaz was king.