Manasseh King of Judah^(A)(B)

21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.^{(C) 2} He did evil^(D) in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices^(E) of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ³ He rebuilt the high places^(F) his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal^(G) and made an Asherah pole,^(H) as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts^(I) and worshiped them. ⁴ He built altars^(J) in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.”^{(K) 5} In the two courts^(L) of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶ He sacrificed his own son^(M) in the fire, practiced divination,^(N) sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists.^(O) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing^(P) his anger.

⁷ He took the carved Asherah pole^(Q) he had made and put it in the temple,^(R) of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name^(S) forever. ⁸ I will not again^(T) make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses^(U) gave them.” ⁹ But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil^(V) than the nations^(W) the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

¹⁰ The Lord said through his servants the prophets: ¹¹ “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil^(X) than the Amorites^(Y) who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols.^{(Z) 12} Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster^(AA) on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.^{(AB) 13} I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line^(AC) used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe^(AD) out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. ¹⁴ I will forsake^(AE) the remnant^(AF) of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; ¹⁵ they have done evil^(AG) in my eyes and have aroused^(AH) my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”

¹⁶ Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood^(AI) that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah^(AJ) to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

¹⁷ As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ¹⁸ Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden,^(AK) the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

Amon King of Judah^(AL)

¹⁹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. ²⁰ He did evil^(AM) in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. ²¹ He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. ²² He forsook^(AN) the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk^(AO) in obedience to him.

²³ Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated^(AP) the king in his palace. ²⁴ Then the people of the land killed^(AQ) all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah^(AR) his son king in his place.

²⁵ As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? ²⁶ He was buried in his tomb in the garden^(AS) of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

31 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God^(A) of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

² This is what the Lord says:

³ The Lord appeared to us in the past,^[a] saying:

⁷ This is what the Lord says:

¹⁵ This is what the Lord says:

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says:

²³ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,^[c](BV) the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless^(BW) you, you prosperous city,^(BX) you sacred mountain.’^{(BY) 24} People will live^(BZ) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.^{(CA) 25} I will refresh the weary^(CB) and satisfy the faint.”^(CC)

²⁶ At this I awoke^(CD) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

²⁷ “The days are coming,”^(CE) declares the Lord, “when I will plant^(CF) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. ²⁸ Just as I watched^(CG) over them to uproot^(CH) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,^(CI) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”^(CJ) declares the Lord. ²⁹ “In those days people will no longer say,

³⁰ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;^(CM) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

³⁵ This is what the Lord says,

³⁷ This is what the Lord says:

³⁸ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt^(DI) for me from the Tower of Hananel^(DJ) to the Corner Gate.^{(DK) 39} The measuring line^(DL) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. ⁴⁰ The whole valley^(DM) where dead bodies^(DN) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley^(DO) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,^(DP) will be holy^(DQ) to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Faith or Works of the Law

3 You foolish^(A) Galatians!^(B) Who has bewitched you?^(C) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.^{(D) 2} I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit^(E) by the works of the law,^(F) or by believing what you heard?^{(G) 3} Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^{[a] 4} Have you experienced^[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles^(H) among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?^{(I) 6} So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[c](J)

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith^(K) are children of Abraham.^{(L) 8} Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^{[d](M) 9} So those who rely on faith^(N) are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.^(O)

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law^(P) are under a curse,^(Q) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^{[e](R) 11} Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,^(S) because “the righteous will live by faith.”^{[f](T) 12} The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[g](U) 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law^(V) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”^{[h](W) 14} He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,^(X) so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.^(Y)

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters,^(Z) let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(AA) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[i](AB) meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(AC) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;^(AD) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

¹⁹ Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions^(AE) until the Seed^(AF) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels^(AG) and entrusted to a mediator.^{(AH) 20} A mediator,^(AI) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!^(AJ) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^{(AK) 22} But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(AL) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[j] we were held in custody^(AM) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(AN) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(AO) that we might be justified by faith.^{(AP) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(AQ)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(AR) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(AS) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(AT) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(AU) nor is there male and female,^(AV) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(AW) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(AX) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(AY) and heirs^(AZ) according to the promise.^(BA)

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(BB) under the elemental spiritual forces^[k] of the world.^{(BC) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(BD) God sent his Son,^(BE) born of a woman,^(BF) born under the law,^{(BG) 5} to redeem^(BH) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(BI) to sonship.^{[l](BJ) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(BK) into our hearts,^(BL) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[m] Father.”^{(BM) 7} So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(BN)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God,^(BO) you were slaves^(BP) to those who by nature are not gods.^{(BQ) 9} But now that you know God—or rather are known by God^(BR)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[n]? Do you wish to be enslaved^(BS) by them all over again?^{(BT) 10} You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!^{(BU) 11} I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.^(BV)

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters,^(BW) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness^(BX) that I first preached the gospel to you, ¹⁴ and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.^{(BY) 15} Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?^(BZ)

¹⁷ Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.^{(CA) 18} It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.^{(CB) 19} My dear children,^(CC) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,^{(CD) 20} how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law,^(CE) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(CF) and the other by the free woman.^{(CG) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(CH) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(CI)

²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above^(CJ) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(CL) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(CM) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(CN) It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^{[p](CO) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(CP) but of the free woman.^(CQ)