1. And the spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2. and he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him he will forsake you.
3. Now for long seasons Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law:
4. But when in their distress they turned unto the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
5. And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands.
6. And they were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
7. But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack: for your work shall be rewarded.