1. The spirit of God came upon Azariah, son of Oded.
2. He went forth to meet Asa and said to him: “Hear me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The Lord is with you when you are with him, and if you seek him he will be found; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
3. For a long time Israel was without a true God, without a priest-teacher, without instruction,
4. but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.
5. At that time there was no peace for anyone to go or come; rather, there were many terrors upon the inhabitants of the lands.
6. Nation crushed nation and city crushed city, for God overwhelmed them with every kind of distress.
7. But as for you, be strong and do not slack off, for there shall be a reward for what you do.”