| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in 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. |
| 2He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir. | 2He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. |
| 3He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. | 3Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. |
| 4He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. | 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. |
| 5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. | 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon. |
| 6Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and no longer served 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. |
| 7he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, | 7The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. |
| 8who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. | 8They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year--that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. |
| 9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress. | 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly. |
| 10Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals." | 10The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD: "We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." |
| 11The LORD replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, | 11The LORD said to the Israelites, "Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, |
| 12the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? | 12the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. |
| 13But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. | 13But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. |
| 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" | 14Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!" |
| 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." | 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!" |
| 16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel's misery no longer. | 16They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much. |
| 17When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. | 17The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. |
| 18The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, "Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in 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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