In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact ¹  with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri.

Phinehas took a stand and intervened, ¹  and the plague subsided.

For this reason all hands hang limp, ¹  every human heart loses its courage. ² 

For they did not dare any longer to ask ¹  him anything.

However, no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders. ¹ 

I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.

But I ¹  am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives, and have a strong commitment to justice. ²  This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion, and Israel with its sin. ³ 

When ¹  they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, ²  and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak ³  the word of God ⁴  courageously. ⁵ 

and most of the brothers and sisters, ¹  having confidence in the Lord ²  because of my imprisonment, now more than ever ³  dare to speak the word ⁴  fearlessly.

But Christ ¹  is faithful as a son over God’s ²  house. We are of his house, ³  if in fact we hold firmly ⁴  to our confidence and the hope we take pride in. ⁵ 

When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they ¹  crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites. ² 

He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisers, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

That day they killed about ten thousand Moabites ¹  – all strong, capable warriors; not one escaped.

Eighteen thousand Benjaminites, all of them capable warriors, fell dead.

Realize ¹  now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”

He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. ¹ 

And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected ¹  and will take your rest in safety.

For this reason we do not fear ¹  when the earth shakes, ²  and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, ³ 

You have given your loyal followers ¹  a rallying flag, so that they might seek safety from the bow. ²  (Selah)

Those who are champions ¹  at drinking wine are as good as dead, ²  who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.