1
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a greatmanwith his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had givendeliverance unto Syria: he was also a mightyman in valour, but he was a leper.
2
And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captiveout of the land of Israel a littlemaid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
3
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he wouldrecover him of his leprosy.
4
And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
5
And the king of Syriasaid, Goto, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with himtentalents of silver, and sixthousand pieces of gold, and tenchanges of raiment.
6
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sentNaaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
7
And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy?whereforeconsider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
8
And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
9
So Naamancame with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10
And Elishasent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordanseventimes, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11
But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
13
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some greatthing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14
Then went he down, and dipped himself seventimes in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a littlechild, and he was clean.
15
And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stoodbefore him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
16
But he said, As the LORDliveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
17
And Naamansaid, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servanttwomules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto othergods, but unto the LORD.
18
In this thing the LORDpardon thy servant, that when my mastergoeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bowdown myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORDpardon thy servant in this thing.
19
And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a littleway.
20
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath sparedNaaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORDliveth, I will runafter him, and takesomewhat of him.
21
So GehazifollowedafterNaaman. And when Naamansaw him runningafter him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22
And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mountEphraimtwo young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and twochanges of garments.
23
And Naamansaid, Be content, taketwotalents. And he urged him, and boundtwotalents of silver in twobags, with twochanges of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24
And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the mengo, and they departed.
25
But he wentin, and stood before his master. And Elishasaid unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servantwent no whither.
26
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the manturned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receivemoney, and to receivegarments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.