New Living Translation

New King James Version

Uzziah Rules in Judah

All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father.

1

Uzziah Reigns in Judah

Now all the people of Judah took [a]Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

2

After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elatha and restored it to Judah.

2

He built [b]Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.

3

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem.

3

Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

4

He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done.

4

And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

5

Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God.b And as long as the king sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.

5

He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the [c]visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

6

Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia.

6

Now he went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines.

7

God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur,c and his wars with the Meunites.

7

God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.

8

The Meunitesd paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.

8

Also the Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong.

9

Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall.

9

And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; then he fortified them.

10

He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judahe and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.

10

Also he built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains and in [d]Carmel, for he loved the soil.

11

Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials.

11

Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by companies, according to the number on their roll as prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.

12

These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2,600 clan leaders.

12

The total number of [e]chief officers of the mighty men of valor was two thousand six hundred.

13

The army consisted of 307,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.

13

And under their authority was an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

14

Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones.

14

Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones.

15

And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stonesf from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the LORD gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.

15

And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

16

Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment

But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.

16

The Penalty for Uzziah’s Pride

But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

17

Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the LORD, all brave men.

17

So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord — valiant men.

18

They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The LORD God will not honor you for this!”

18

And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.”

19

Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the LORD’s Temple, leprosyg suddenly broke out on his forehead.

19

Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar.

20

When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the LORD had struck him.

20

And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.

21

So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the LORD. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.

21

King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

22

The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

22

Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz wrote.

23

When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became the next king.

23

So Uzziah [f]rested with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” Then Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

2 Chronicles 26

2 Chronicles 26