| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. | 1After Abimelech's death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. |
| 2And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir. | 2He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. |
| 3After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. | 3Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. |
| 4And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. | 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair--they are in the land of Gilead. |
| 5And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. | 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon. |
| 6The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the LORD and did not serve him. | 6The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not worship him. |
| 7So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, | 7The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. |
| 8and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. | 8They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year--that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. |
| 9And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. | 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly. |
| 10And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” | 10The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD: "We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." |
| 11And the LORD said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? | 11The LORD said to the Israelites, "Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, |
| 12The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. | 12the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. |
| 13Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. | 13But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. |
| 14Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” | 14Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!" |
| 15And the people of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” | 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!" |
| 16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. | 16They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much. |
| 17Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead. And the people of Israel came together, and they encamped at Mizpah. | 17The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. |
| 18And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” | 18The leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!" |
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