2 Kings 22

1 Eight years old, was Josiah when he began to reign, and, thirty-one years, reigned he in Jerusalem, —and, this mother’s name, was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah, of Bozkath.

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

2 And he did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, —and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside, to the right hand or to the left.

He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left.

3 And it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying—

In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the LORD’s house, saying,

4 Go up unto Hilkiah, the high priest, that he pour out the silver that hath been brought into the house of Yahweh, —which the keepers of the entrance-hall have gathered from the people,

“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which is brought into the LORD’s house, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people.

5 that they may give it into the hand of the doers of the work, who have oversight of the house of Yahweh, that they may give it to the doers of the work, who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house;

Let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the LORD’s house; and let them give it to the workers who are in the LORD’s house, to repair the damage to the house,

6 to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, —and to buy timber, and hewn stones, for repairing the house.

to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house.

7 Howbeit there used to be no reckoning made with them, as to the silver that was given into their hand, —because, with faithfulness, were they dealing.

However, no accounting shall be asked of them for the money delivered into their hand, for they deal faithfully.”

8 Then said Hilkiah the high priest, unto Shaphan the scribe—The book of the law, have I found, in the house of Yahweh. So Hilkiah delivered the book unto Shaphan, and he read it.

Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the scroll of the Torah in the LORD’s house.” Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

9 Then came Shaphan the scribe unto the king, and brought the king word again, —and said—Thy servants have poured out the silver that was found in the house, and have delivered it unto the hand of the doers of the work, who have oversight of the house of Yahweh.

Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have the oversight of the LORD’s house.”

10 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying—A book, hath Hilkiah the priest delivered unto me. And Shaphan read it before the king.

Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.” Then Shaphan read it before the king.

11 And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.

When the king had heard the words of the scroll of the Torah, he tore his clothes.

12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam son of Shaphan, and Achbor son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying:

The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,

13 Go ye—enquire of Yahweh, for me and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book which hath been found, —for, great, is the wrath of Yahweh, in that it hath fired up against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all which is written concerning us.

“Go enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the LORD’s wrath that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.”

14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas keeper of the vestments, she having her dwelling in Jerusalem, in the new city, —and they spake unto her.

So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her.

15 And she said unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Say ye unto the man who hath sent you unto me:

She said to them, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,

16 Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me! about to bring calamity upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, —all the words of the book, which, the king of Judah, hath read:

“The LORD says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.

17 Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger, with all the workmanship of their hands; and so my wrath shall fire up against this place, and shall not be quenched:

Because they have forsaken me and have burnt incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’”

18 But, unto the king of Judah, who hath sent you to enquire of Yahweh, thus, shall ye say unto him, —Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard:

But to the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, tell him, “The LORD the God of Israel says, ‘Concerning the words which you have heard,

19 Because, tender, was thy heart, and thou didst humble thyself before Yahweh when thou heardest what I had spoken against this place and against the inhabitants thereof—that they should become a desolation and a curse, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me, therefore also, I, have hearkened—declareth Yahweh.

because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you,’ says the LORD.

20 For this cause, behold me! about to gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy graves, in peace, and so thine eyes shall not look upon all the misfortune which I am about to bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

‘Therefore behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.’”’” So they brought this message back to the king.