Omri

15In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

In Asa's twenty-seventh year as king of Judah, Zimri ruled in Tirzah for seven days. Israel's army was camped outside the Philistine town of Gibbethon.

16And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

The soldiers in the camp heard the news. Zimri had made a secret plan and had killed the king. So that very day, all Israel made Omri their king. Omri was the commander of the army.

17And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

Omri and all the Israelites left Gibbethon. They marched to Tirzah and surrounded the city.

18And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

Zimri saw that the city had been taken. So he went into the strong part of the palace. He set the palace on fire around himself, and he died there.

19For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

This happened because of the sins Zimri had done. He did evil in the LORD's sight. He lived the same bad way Jeroboam did, and he led Israel to sin.

20Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

The other things Zimri did, and the plan he made against the king, are written down. They are in the book called the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

21Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.

Then the people of Israel split into two groups. Half wanted Tibni, the son of Ginath, to be king. Half wanted Omri.

22But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.

But Omri's side was stronger than Tibni's side. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.

23In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.

In Asa's thirty-first year as king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel. He ruled twelve years, and six of them were in Tirzah.

24And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.

Omri bought a hill from a man named Shemer. He paid two talents of silver for it. He built a city on the hill. He named the city Samaria, after Shemer, who had owned the hill.

25But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.

But Omri did evil in the LORD's sight. He was worse than every king before him.

26For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

He lived just the way Jeroboam son of Nebat had lived. He did Jeroboam's sins and led Israel to sin. He made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry with their worthless idols.

27Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

The other things Omri did, and how strong he was, are written down. They are in the book called the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

28So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

Then Omri died, like his fathers before him. He was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king after him.

9The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

The voice of the LORD calls out to the city. It is wise to respect his name. Pay attention to the punishment that is coming. Pay attention to the One who sent it.

10Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

"You wicked people, are your houses still full of things you got by cheating? Are you still using measuring baskets that are too small? I hate that.

11Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Should I call people honest when their scales lie? Should I, when their bags are full of false weights?

12For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

The rich people in the city hurt others. The people who live there tell lies. Their mouths are full of tricks.

13Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

So I am hitting you hard. I am leaving you empty and ruined because of your sins.

14Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

You will eat, but you will still feel hungry. That empty feeling will stay with you. You will grab things, but you will not keep them. What you do keep, I will hand over to war.

15Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

You will plant seeds, but you will not gather any crop. You will press olives, but you will get no oil to rub on your skin. You will squeeze grapes, but you will drink no wine.

16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

You have kept the rules of King Omri. You do what King Ahab's family did. You follow their advice. So I will leave your land empty. People will laugh at everyone who lives there. Other nations will make fun of you, and you will have to carry that shame."