16. But when Uzziah became strong, his pride caused him to be destroyed. He was not faithful to the Lord his God. He went into the Lord’S Temple to burn incense on the altar for burning incense.
17. Azariah the priest and 80 brave priests who served the Lord followed Uzziah into the Temple.
18. They told Uzziah he was wrong. They said to him, “Uzziah, it is not your job to burn incense to the Lord. It is not right. That is for the priests, Aaron’s descendants, to do. They are the only ones who have been prepared for the holy work of burning incense. You have not been faithful, so you must go out of the Most Holy Place. The Lord God will not honor you for this.”
19. But Uzziah was angry. He had a bowl in his hand for burning incense. While Uzziah was very angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead. This happened in front of the priests in the Lord’S Temple by the altar for burning incense.
20. Azariah the leading priest and all the priests looked at Uzziah. They could see the leprosy on his forehead. The priests quickly forced him out from the Temple. Uzziah himself hurried out because the Lord had punished him.
21. So Uzziah the king was a leper. He could not enter the Lord’S Temple. His son Jotham controlled the king’s palace and became governor for the people.
22. Everything else Uzziah did, from beginning to end, is written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.