Elisha Recovers A Lost Axe Head
1 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, There is not room enough for us in the place where we are living under your care;
1 And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.
1 Now (A)the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us.
1 The sons of the prophets(A) said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision(a) is too small for us.
1 One day the Guild of Prophets told Elisha, "Notice how the place where we are living is too small for us.
2 So let us go to Jordan, and let everyone get to work cutting boards, and we will make a living-place for ourselves there. And he said to them, Go, then.
2 Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.
2 Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.”
2 Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”“Go,” he said.
2 Let's go to the Jordan River, fashion some rafters, and build a place for us so we can live there." So he said, "Go!"
3 And one of them said, Be pleased to go with your servants. And he said, I will go.
3 And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.
3 Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”“I’ll come,” he answered.
3 Someone asked, "Would you be willing to come with your servants?"
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they got to work cutting down trees.
4 So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.
4 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
4 So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
4 "I'm willing," he replied. So he accompanied them, and when they came to the Jordan River, they cut down some trees.
5 But one of them, while cutting a board, let the head of his axe go into the water; and he gave a cry, and said, This is a bad business, my master, for it is another's.
5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.
5 But as one was felling a beam, (b)the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.”
5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”(B)
5 It happened that as one of them was felling a beam, his axe head fell into the water. He cried out, "Oh no! Master! The axe was on loan to me!"
6 And the man of God said, Where did it go in? and when he saw the place where it had gone into the water, cutting a stick, he put it into the water, and the iron came up to the top of the water.
6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.
6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, (B)he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.
6 Then the man of God(C) asked, “Where did it fall?”When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.(D)
6 The man of God asked, "Where did it fall?" When he was shown the place, he cut off a branch, tossed it there, and made the iron axe head float.
7 Then he said, Take it up. So he put out his hand and took it.
7 Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.
7 He said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it.
7 Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.
7 Then Elisha said, "Pick it up!" So the young man reached out and picked it up.
Arameans Plot To Take Elisha
8 At that time the king of Aram was making war against Israel; and he had a meeting with the chiefs of his army and said, I will be waiting in secret in some named place.
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
8 Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he (c)counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.”
8 When the king of Aram(E) was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.”
8 Eventually the king of Aram went to war against Israel, taking counsel with his advisors and concluding, "In such and such a place I'll build my encampment."
9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Take care to keep away from that place, for the Aramaeans are waiting there in secret.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
9 (C)The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.”
9 But the man of God(F) sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.”
9 So the man of God sent a message to the king of Israel, warning him, "Keep an eye on that area, because the Arameans are going to be there!"
10 So the king of Israel sent to the place where the man of God had said there was danger, and kept clear of it more than once.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
10 The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, (d)more than once or twice.
10 Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly(b) warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.
10 The king of Israel confirmed the matter about which the man of God had warned him. Having been forewarned, he was able to protect himself there on more than one or two occasions.
11 And at this, the mind of the king of Aram was greatly troubled, and he sent for his servants and said to them, Will you not make clear to me which of us is helping the king of Israel?
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
11 Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?”
11 The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?”
11 The king of Aram flew into a rage over this, so he called in his advisors and asked them, "Will you please tell me which of us has joined the king of Israel?"
12 And one of them said, Not one of us, my lord king; but Elisha, the prophet in Israel, gives the king of Israel news of the words you say even in your bedroom.
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
12 One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
12 One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”
12 "No, your majesty," one of his servants said. "Elisha the prophet, who lives in Israel, tells the king of Israel what you talk about in your bedroom!"
13 Then he said, Go and see where he is, so that I may send and get him. And news came to him that he was in Dothan.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in (D)Dothan.”
13 So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.”When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”(G)
13 So the king ordered, "Go and discover where he is, so I may send men to take him into custody." Later somebody told him, "Look! He's in Dothan!"
14 So he sent there horses and carriages and a great army; and they came by night, circling the town.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
14 He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
14 he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
14 So the king of Aram sent out horses, chariots, and an elite force, and they arrived during the night and surrounded the city.
15 Now the servant of the man of God, having got up early and gone out, saw an army with horses and carriages of war all round the town. And the servant said to him, O my master, what are we to do?
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! (e)What shall we do?”
15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”
15 Meanwhile, the attendant to the man of God got up early in the morning and went outside, and there were the elite forces, surrounding the city, accompanied by horses and chariots! So Elisha's attendant cried out to him, "Oh no! Master! What will we do!?"
16 And he said in answer, Have no fear; those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
16 So he (f)answered, “(E)Do not fear, for (F)those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,(H) for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”(I)
16 Elisha replied, "Stop being afraid, because there are more with us than with them!"
17 Then Elisha made a prayer to the Lord, saying, Lord, let his eyes be open so that he may see. And the Lord made the young man's eyes open; and he saw that all the mountain was full of horses and carriages of fire round Elisha.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “(G)O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of (H)horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
17 Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire(J) all around Elisha.
17 Then Elisha prayed, asking the LORD, "Please make him able to really see!" And so when the LORD enabled the young man to see, he looked, and there was the mountain, filled with horses and fiery chariots surrounding Elisha!
18 Now when the Aramaeans came down to Elisha, he made a prayer to the Lord saying, Lord, make this people blind. And he made them blind at Elisha's request.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this (g)people with blindness, I pray.” So He (I)struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
18 When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness,(K) according to Elisha’s word.
18 When the army approached him, Elisha spoke to the LORD, asking him, "LORD, I'm asking you please to afflict this group of people with blindness!" So he afflicted them with blindness, just as Elisha had asked.
19 And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, and this is not the town: come after me so that I may take you to the man you are searching for. And he took them to Samaria.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.
19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.(L)
19 Then Elisha told the army, "This isn't the way, and this isn't the city! Follow me, and I'll bring you to the man you're seeking." Then he led them to Samaria.
20 And when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, Lord, let the eyes of these men be open so that they may see. And the Lord made their eyes open, and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O (J)Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
20 When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes. They looked and discovered they were in Samaria.
20 When they arrived in Samaria, Elisha asked the LORD, "Enable them to see again." So the LORD did so, and there they were right in the middle of Samaria!
21 And the king of Israel, when he saw them, said to Elisha, My father, am I to put them to the sword?
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “(K)My father, shall I (h)kill them? Shall I (i)kill them?”
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father,(M) should I kill them? I will kill them.”
21 When the king of Israel saw Elisha, he asked him, "Shall I execute them, my father?"
22 But he said in answer, You are not to put them to death; have you any right to put to death those whom you have not taken prisoner with your sword and your bow? put bread and water before them, so that they may have food and drink and go to their master.
22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
22 He (j)answered, “You shall not (k)kill them. Would you (l)(L)kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? (M)Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
22 Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”(N)
22 But he replied, "No! You're not to kill them! Would you execute those whom you've taken captive at the point of a sword or with your bow? Give them food and water so they can eat and drink. Then send them back to their master!"
23 So he made ready a great feast for them, and when they had had food and drink, he sent them away and they went back to their master. And no more bands of Aramaeans came into the land of Israel.
23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
23 So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And (N)the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
23 So he prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders(O) did not come into Israel’s land again.
23 So he prepared a large festival for them, and when they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them back to their master, and marauding gangs of Arameans never came into the territory of Israel again.
Besieged Samaria Resorts To Cannibalism
24 Now after this, Ben-hadad, king of Aram, got together all his army and went up to make an attack on Samaria, shutting the town in on all sides with his forces.
24 And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
24 Now it came about after this, that (O)Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and went up and besieged Samaria.
24 Some time later, King Ben-hadad(P) of Aram brought all his military units together and marched up to besiege Samaria.
24 Some time later, King Ben-hadad from Aram mustered his army, invaded the land, and attacked Samaria
25 And they became very short of food in Samaria; for they kept it shut in till the price of an ass's head was eighty shekels of silver, and a small measure of doves' droppings was five shekels of silver.
25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.
25 There was a great (P)famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a (m)kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.
25 So there was a great famine(Q) in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for 80 silver shekels,(c) and a cup(d) of dove’s dung(e) sold for five silver shekels.(f)(R)
25 until there was a great famine throughout Samaria. The siege lasted until a donkey's head cost 80 silver coins and one quarter of a unit of dove's dung cost five silver coins.
26 And when the king of Israel was going by on the wall, a woman came crying out to him, and said, Help! my lord king.
26 And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”
26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “My lord the king, help!”
26 While the king of Israel was walking along the city wall, a woman cried out to him. "Help me, your majesty!" she said.
27 And he said, If the Lord does not give you help, where am I to get help for you? from the grain-floor or the grape-crusher?
27 And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
27 He said, “(n)If the Lord does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”
27 He answered, “If the Lord doesn’t help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?”(S)
27 He replied, "No! Since the LORD won't give you victory, how will I be able to deliver you? From the threshing floor? From the wine press?"
28 And the king said to her, What is troubling you? And she said in answer, This woman said to me, Give your son to be our food today, and we will have my son tomorrow.
28 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
28 And the king said to her, “(Q)What (o)is the matter with you?” And she (p)answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’
28 Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?”(T)She said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.’
28 Then the king asked her, "What's bothering you?"
29 So, boiling my son, we had a meal of him; and on the day after I said to her, Now give your son for our food; but she has put her son in a secret place.
29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
29 (R)So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”
29 So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him,’(U) but she has hidden her son.”
29 She said, "This woman told me, "Give up your son, and we'll eat him today, and we'll eat your son tomorrow.'" So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day, I told her, "Give me your son so we can eat him!' But she has hidden her son!"
30 Then the king, hearing what the woman said, took his robes in his hands, violently parting them; and, while he was walking on the wall, the people, looking, saw that under his robe he had haircloth on his flesh.
30 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
30 When the king heard the words of the woman, (S)he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth (q)beneath on his (r)body.
30 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes.(V) Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackcloth(W) under his clothes next to his skin.
30 When the king heard what the woman said, he ripped his garments as he continued walking along the city wall. As the people watched, all of a sudden they noticed he was wearing sackcloth underneath his clothes, inside next to his flesh!
31 Then he said, May God's punishment come on me if Elisha, the son of Shaphat, keeps his head on his body after this day.
31 Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
31 Then he said, “May (T)God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat (s)remains on him today.”
31 He announced, “May God punish me and do so severely(X) if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”
31 He said, "May God do to me and more also! if the head of Shaphat's son Elisha remains on his shoulders today!"
32 But Elisha was in his house, and the responsible men were seated there with him; and before the king got there, Elisha said to those who were with him, Do you see how this cruel and violent man has sent to take away my life?
32 But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?
32 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and (U)the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man from his presence; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you (V)see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and (t)hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”
32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders(Y) were sitting with him. The king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger got to him, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer(Z) has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”
32 Meanwhile, Elisha was sitting in his house, along with the elders, when the king sent a man to kill him, but before the messenger arrived, Elisha told the elders, "Are you watching how this descendant of murderers has ordered my head be cut off? Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it to shut them out! Don't you hear the sound of his master's feet right behind him?"
33 While he was still talking to them, the king came down and said, This evil is from the Lord; why am I to go on waiting any longer for the Lord?
33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
33 While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, “(W)Behold, this evil is from the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”
33 While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger(g) came down to him. Then he said, “This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”(AA)
33 While he was still talking with them, the messenger arrived to see him and delivered the king's message to Elisha, "Look! This evil has come from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD anymore?"