The LORD asked, 'Who will deceive Ahab so that he will go and be killed at Ramoth?' Some of the angels said one thing, and others said something else,

God is strong and always victorious; both deceived and deceiver are in his power.

So he told me to go and give the people this message: "No matter how much you listen, you will not understand. No matter how much you look, you will not know what is happening."

Then he said to me, "Make the minds of these people dull, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind, so that they cannot see or hear or understand. If they did, they might turn to me and be healed."

"I create the blacksmith, who builds a fire and forges weapons. I also create the soldier, who uses the weapons to kill.

"If any prophets are deceived into giving a false answer, it is because I, the LORD, have deceived them. I will remove them from the people of Israel.

And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false.

The result is that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in sin, will be condemned.

If we are tempted by such trials, we must not say, "This temptation comes from God." For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

But we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires.

You may think that they will make you stronger in battle, but it is God who has the power to give victory or defeat, and he will let your enemies defeat you."

Now Amaziah, you boast that you have defeated the Edomites, but I advise you to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and your people?"

Honesty makes a good person's life easier, but the wicked will cause their own downfall.