Jehu Anointed King of Israel

1 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the ^dsons of the prophets and said to him, ^e“Tie up your garments, and take this ^fflask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for ^gJehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee; do not linger.”

4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, “I have a word for you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of us all?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” 6 So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel ^hthe blood of my servants the prophets, and ⁱthe blood of all the servants of the Lord. 8 For ^jthe whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab ^kevery male, bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab ^llike the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and ^mlike the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And ⁿthe dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.

11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” 12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and ^oput it under him on the bare¹ steps, and they ^pblew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”

Jehu Assassinates Joram and Ahaziah

14 Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against ^qJoram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria, 15 but King Joram had ^rreturned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your decision, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And ^sAhaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” And the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus the king has said, ‘Is it peace?’” And Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21 Joram said, “Make ready.” And they made ready his chariot. ^tThen Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of ^uNaboth the Jezreelite. 22 And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?” 23 Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, “Treachery, O Ahaziah!” 24 And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the Lord made this pronouncement against him: 26 ^v‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—declares the Lord—I will repay you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”

27 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also.” And they shot him² in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 His servants ^wcarried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.

29 In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, ^xAhaziah began to reign over Judah.

Jehu Executes Jezebel

30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she ^ypainted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. 31 And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, ^zmurderer of your master?” 32 And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. 34 Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a ^aking’s daughter.” 35 But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. 36 When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the Lord, ^bwhich he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, 37 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as ^cdung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’”

Waw

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

1 Finally, my brothers,^{1 r}rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the ^sdogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who ^tmutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the ^ucircumcision, who ^vworship by the Spirit of God² and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the ^wflesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. ^xIf anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the ^yeighth day, ^zof the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a ^aHebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a ^bPharisee; 6 as to ^czeal, a ^dpersecutor of the church; as to ^erighteousness under the law,³ blameless. 7 But whatever ^fgain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, ^gI count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. ^hFor his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a ⁱrighteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^jthat which comes through ^kfaith in Christ, the ^lrighteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the ^mpower of his resurrection, and may ⁿshare his sufferings, ^obecoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may ^pattain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already ^qperfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ^rforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 ^sI press on toward the goal for the ^tprize of the upward ^ucall of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are ^vmature think this way, and if in anything ^wyou think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, ^xjoin in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 ^yTheir end is destruction, their god is their ^zbelly, and they glory in their shame, with ^aminds set on earthly things. 20 But ^bour citizenship is ^cin heaven, and ^dfrom it we ^eawait a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will ^ftransform our ^glowly body to be ^hlike his ⁱglorious body, ^jby the power that enables him even to subject ^kall things to himself.

1 Therefore, my brothers,⁴ whom I love and long for, my ^ljoy and crown, ^mstand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Exhortation, Encouragement, and Prayer

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to ⁿagree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion,⁵ help these women, who have ^olabored⁶ side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the ^pbook of life.

4 ^qRejoice in the Lord ^ralways; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness⁷ be known to everyone. The Lord is ^sat hand; 6 ^tdo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication ^uwith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the ^vpeace of God, which ^wsurpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 ^xWhat you have learned⁸ and ^yreceived and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be ^zcontent. 12 I know ^ahow to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who ^bstrengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you to share⁹ my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that ^cin the beginning of the gospel, ^dwhen I left Macedonia, ^eno church entered into ^fpartnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the ^gfruit that increases to your credit.¹⁰ 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And ^hmy God will supply every need of yours according to his ⁱriches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 ^jTo our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 ^kAll the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Greeting

1 Paul, a ^aprisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and ^bArchippus our ^cfellow soldier, and ^dthe church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 ^eI thank my God always when I ^fremember you in my prayers, 5 because ^gI hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full ^hknowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.¹ 7 For ⁱI have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

8 Accordingly, though I am ^jbold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 ^kI appeal to you for my child, ^lOnesimus,² whose ^mfather I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, ⁿin order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might ^onot be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 ^pno longer as a bondservant³ but more than a bondservant, as a beloved ^qbrother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me your ^rpartner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 ^sI, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 ^tConfident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do ^ueven more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for ^vI am hoping that ^wthrough your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Final Greetings

23 ^xEpaphras, my ^yfellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, ^zDemas, and ^aLuke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.