1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly honored, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a mighty warrior, but he had leprosy. 2 Aramean raiding parties had gone out and taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 Naaman went in and told his master, “This is what the girl from the land of Israel said.” 5 The king of Aram said, “Go, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him about 750 pounds of silver, about 150 pounds of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to put to death and give life, that this man sends someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? Just consider and see how he is looking for a quarrel with me!” 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan. Your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought he would surely come out to me, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the affected place, and cure the leprosy. 12 Are not Amana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 His servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God. His flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. 15 Then he returned to the man of God with all his company. He came and stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, then please let your servant be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will no longer offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to other gods, but only to the LORD. 18 May the LORD forgive your servant in this matter: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down there, and he is leaning on my arm, I bow down in the temple of Rimmon. When I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD please forgive your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” After Naaman had gone some distance from him,

20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master has let this Naaman the Aramean go without accepting what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 He said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them about 75 pounds of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ” 23 Naaman said, “Please, take about 150 pounds.” He urged him, tied up about 150 pounds of silver in two bags, along with two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When he reached the hill, he took the things from their hands and put them in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left. 25 He went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept silver and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, male and female servants? 27 Therefore Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever.” And Gehazi went out from his presence with leprosy, white as snow.