1 Kings 22:2-26
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 22
2In the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3Now the king of Israel said to his servants, 'Are you aware that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, yet we are hesitant to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?' 4So he said to Jehoshaphat, 'Will you go to battle with me at Ramoth-gilead?' And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, 'Consider me yours, my people yours, and my horses yours!'
5However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, 'Please request the word of the Lord first.'
6So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and said to them, 'Should I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead or should I refrain?' And they said, 'Go up, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.'
7But Jehoshaphat said, 'Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of him?'
8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, 'There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy anything good regarding me, but only bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.' But Jehoshaphat said, 'May the king not say so.'
9Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, 'Bring Micaiah son of Imlah quickly.'
10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
11Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, 'This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed!’?'
12All the prophets were prophesying this as well, saying, 'Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.'
13Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, 'Behold now, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.'
14But Micaiah said, 'As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, I shall speak it.'
15When he came to the king, the king said to him, 'Micaiah, should we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?' And he said, 'Go up and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king!'
16Then the king said to him, 'How many times must I make you swear that you will tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?'
19And Micaiah said, 'Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the angels of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
20And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one spirit said this, while another said that.
21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him, and you will also prevail. Go and do so.’
23Now then, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours; and the Lord has declared disaster against you.'
24Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek; and he said, 'How did the Spirit of the Lord pass from me to speak to you?'
25And Micaiah said, 'Behold, you are going to see how on that day when you go from one inner room to another trying to hide yourself.'
26Then the king of Israel said, 'Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
King James Version
Chapter 22
2And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 4And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day. 6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him? 8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.
10And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
11And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
12And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand.
13And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
14And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.
15So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
16And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?
17And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
18And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
19And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
22And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
24But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?
25And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
26And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 22
2However, in the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit the king of Israel. 3The king of Israel had said to his servants, "Don’t you know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, but we’re doing nothing to take it from the king of Aram?"
4So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
5But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "First, please ask what the Lord’s will is."
10Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor at the entrance to the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them.
11Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made iron horns and said, "This is what the Lord says: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’"
12And all the prophets were prophesying the same: "March up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king."
19Then Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and the whole heavenly army was standing by him at his right hand and at his left hand.
20And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ So one was saying this and another was saying that.
New Living Translation
Chapter 22
2Then during the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab of Israel. 3During the visit, the king of Israel said to his officials, 'Do you realize that the town of Ramoth-gilead belongs to us? And yet we’ve done nothing to recapture it from the king of Aram!'
4Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, 'Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?' Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, 'Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.'
5Then Jehoshaphat added, 'But first let’s find out what the Lord says.'
10King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them.
11One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, 'This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!'
14But Micaiah replied, 'As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 22
2But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 4And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
5And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the Lord."
6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
7But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?"
8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."
9Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah."
10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
11And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’"
12And all the prophets prophesied so and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
13And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably."
14But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak."
15And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?" And he answered him, "Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
16But the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?"
17And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’"
18And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?"
19And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left;
20and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another.
21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’
22And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’
23Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you."
24Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, "How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?"
25And Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself."
26And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king 's son,
New International Version
Chapter 22
2But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. 3The king of Israel had said to his officials, "Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?"
4So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
5But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the Lord."
10Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.
11Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, "This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’ "
New King James Version
4So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”
7And Jehoshaphat said, “ Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?”
10The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
11Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ”
12And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.”
19Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.
20And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
21Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
22The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’
23Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”
