2 Chronicles 16

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, attacked Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent any communication with Asa, king of Judah.
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 Asa then brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the temple of the LORD and of the royal palace and sent them to Ben-hadad, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, with this message:
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 treaty between you and me, as there was between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha, king of Israel, that he may withdraw 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 Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa's request and sent the leaders of his troops against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5 When Baasha heard this he gave up fortifying Ramah, abandoning this work.	5 When Baasha heard of it, he left off fortifying Ramah; he stopped 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 commandeered all of Judah to carry away the stone and wood with which Baasha had been fortifying Ramah, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.
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 seer came to Asa, king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and did not rely on the LORD, your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your 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 Libyans a vast army, with great numbers of chariots and drivers? And yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your power.
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 The eyes of the LORD roam over the whole earth, to encourage those who are devoted to him wholeheartedly. You have acted foolishly in this matter, for from now on you will have wars."
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 But Asa became angry with the seer and imprisoned him in the stocks, so greatly was he enraged at him over this. Asa also oppressed some of his people at this time.
11 The history of Asa, from first to last, is recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.	11 Now the acts of Asa, first and last, can be found recorded in the book of the kings of Judah 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 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa contracted a serious disease in his feet. But even in his sickness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians.
13 Asa then fel asleep with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.	13 Asa rested with his ancestors; he died in the forty-first 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 They buried him in the tomb he had hewn for himself in the City of David, having laid him upon a couch which was filled with spices and various kinds of aromatics compounded into an ointment. They also burned a very great funeral pyre for him.