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Domenica, 28 aprile 2024 - San Luigi Maria Grignion da Montfort ( Letture di oggi)

2 Chronicles 16


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NEW JERUSALEMDOUAI-RHEIMS
1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel marched on Judah and fortified Ramah toblock the communications of Asa king of Judah.1 And in the six and thirtieth year of his kingdom, Baasa the king of Israel came up against Juda, and built a wall about Rama, that no one might safely go out or come in of the kingdom of Asa.
2 Asa then took silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of Yahweh and the royal palace andsent this with the fol owing message to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus,2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king's treasures, and sent to Benadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying:
3 'Let us make an alliance between me and you, between my father and your father! Look, I have sentyou silver and gold. Come, break off your al iance with Baasha king of Israel, which wil make him withdraw fromme.'3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou mayst break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, and make him depart from me.
4 Ben-Hadad listened favourably to King Asa and sent the generals of his armies to attack the towns ofIsrael; he ravaged Ijon, Dan, Abel-Maim and al the storage towns of Naphtali.4 And then Benadad heard this, he sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel: and they took Ahion, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the walled cities of Nephtali.
5 When Baasha heard this he gave up fortifying Ramah, abandoning this work.5 And when Baasa heard of it, he left off the building of Rama, and interrupted his work.
6 King Asa then had al Judah carry away the stones and timber with which Baasha had been fortifyingRamah, and used them to fortify Geba and Mizpah.6 Then king Asa took all Juda, and they carried away from Rama the stones, and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building: and he built with them Gabaa, and Maspha.
7 Then it was that Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said, 'Because you relied on the kingof Aram and not on Yahweh your God, the king of Aram's army wil slip through your fingers.7 At that time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Juda, and said to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and not in the Lord thy God, therefore hath the army of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.
8 Did not the Cushites and Libyans form a vast army with great numbers of chariots and cavalry? Evenso, because you relied on Yahweh, he gave you the upper hand;8 Were not the Ethiopians, and the Libyans much more numerous in chariots, and horsemen, and an exceeding great multitude: yet because thou trustedst in the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand?
9 for Yahweh's eyes rove to and fro across the whole world to support those whose hearts are loyal tohim. You have acted like a fool in this respect; hence, from now on you wil have wars.'9 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee.
10 Enraged with the seer, Asa had him put in the stocks in prison, being angry with him over this; at thesame time Asa ill-treated some of the people too.10 And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to death many of the people at that time.
11 The history of Asa, from first to last, is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.11 But the works of Asa the first and last are written in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel.
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa contracted a disease in his feet, which became very severe;in his il ness, however, he consulted not Yahweh but the doctors.12 And Asa fell sick in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign, of a most violent pain in his feet, and yet in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the skill of physicians.
13 Asa then fel asleep with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.13 And he slept with his fathers: and he died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14 He was buried in the tomb which he had ordered to be cut for him in the City of David. He was laid inthe burial chamber which was fil ed with perfume blended from all sorts of oils, and a very great funeral fire wasmade for him.14 And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had made for himself in the city of David: and they laid him on his bed full of spices and odoriferous ointments, which were made by the art of the perfumers, and they burnt them over him with very great pomp.