2 Chronicles 19
1 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah had returned safely to his home in Jerusalem,
And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned unto his own house in peace, to Jerusalem.
2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.
And there came out to meet him, Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, who said unto King Jehoshaphat, Unto the lawless, was it [right] to give help? and, on them who hate Yahweh, to bestow thy love? For this cause, therefore, is there wrath against thee, from before Yahweh;
3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
howbeit, good things, are found with thee, -for that thou hast consumed the Sacred Stems out of the land, and hast fixed thy heart to seek God.
4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
So Jehoshaphat dwelt in Jerusalem, —and he again went forth among the people, from Beersheba as far as the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.
And he stationed judges in the land, throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city;
6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.
and said unto the judges, See what, ye, are doing, inasmuch as, not for man, must ye judge, but for Yahweh, —who will be with you, in the word of justice.
7 And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
Now, therefore, let the dread of Yahweh be upon you, —observe and do, for there is, with Yahweh our God, neither perversity nor respect of persons nor the taking of bribes.
8 Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.
And, even in Jerusalem, did Jehoshaphat station some of the Levites and the priests, and of the ancestral chiefs of Israel, to pronounce the just sentence of Yahweh, and to settle disputes, —when they returned to Jerusalem.
9 He commanded them, saying, “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.
And he laid charge upon them, saying, —Thus, shall ye act, in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully and with an undivided heart.
10 For every dispute that comes before you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards bloodshed or some other violation of law, commandments, statutes, or ordinances—you are to warn them, so that they will not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath will not come upon you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not incur guilt.
Any dispute that shall come in unto you from among your brethren who are dwelling in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment and statutes and regulations, then shall ye warn them, that they may not become guilty against Yahweh, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren, —Thus, shall ye act, and not incur guilt.
11 Note that Amariah, the chief priest, will be over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. And the Levites will serve as officers before you. Act resolutely; may the LORD be with the upright!”
And lo! Amariah the chief priest, is over you as to every matter of Yahweh, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael the chief ruler for the house of Judah, as to every matter of the king, and, as officers, the Levites are before you, —Be strong and act, and Yahweh be with the good!
