1. And the spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2. And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him,
3. Now for a long time Israel has been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
4. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
5. And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great turmoil was upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
6. And nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city: for God did trouble them with all adversity.
7. Be you strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
8. And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim, and repaired the altar of the LORD, that was before the vestibule of the LORD.