So Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.

"Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.

So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

Many times He delivered them; But they rebelled in their counsel, And were brought low for their iniquity.

And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.

In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old.

"For the LORD will judge His people And have compassion on His servants, When He sees that [their] power is gone, And [there is] no one [remaining,] bond or free.

"therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.

'Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free.