2 Ihe E Mere 34

1 Josaya gbara afọ asatọ mgbe e mere ya eze. Ọ chịrị iri afọ atọ na otu na Jerusalem.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

2 O mere ihe ziri ezi nʼanya Onyenwe anyị, gbasookwa ụzọ niile nke nna nna ya Devid, o sighị nʼụzọ a wezuga onwe ya gaa nʼaka nri maọbụ nʼaka ekpe.

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

3 Nʼafọ nke asatọ nke ọchịchị ya, mgbe ọ ka bụ okorobịa, o bidoro iji obi ya niile na-achọ Chineke nke nna ya Devid. Nʼafọ iri na abụọ nke ọchịchị ya, ọ malitere ime ka Juda na Jerusalem dị ọcha site nʼiwezuga ebe ịchụ aja niile dị elu, na ogidi Ashera niile, na arụsị a pịrị apị na nke a kpụrụ akpụ niile.

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.

4 Nʼihu ya o mere ka a kwatuo ebe ịchụ aja Baal nʼike. Ọ kụdara ebe ịchụ aja ihe nsure ọkụ na-esi isi ụtọ dị nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja Baal ndị ahụ, tijisie ogidi Ashera niile, na arụsị na oyiyi niile. Ọ kụjasịrị ha niile, kpokọrọ ha ghasaa ha nʼelu ili ndị na-efe ha.

Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

5 Ọ kpọrọ ọkpụkpụ ndị nchụaja ahụ ọkụ nʼelu ebe ịchụ aja arụsị ha, si otu a mee ka Juda na Jerusalem dị ọcha.

Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

6 Nʼobodo ndị Manase, na Ifrem na Simiọn, ruo na Naftalị, na mkpọmkpọ ebe ha niile gburugburu.

Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them.

7 O titụrụ ebe ịchụ aja nke arụsị niile na ogidi arụsị Ashera, gwepịa arụsị ndị a niile dịka ntụ. Otu a ka o mere nʼala Izrel niile tupu ọ laghachi Jerusalem.

He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

8 Nʼafọ nke iri na asatọ nke ọchịchị Josaya, mgbe o mere ka ala ahụ na ụlọnsọ dị ọcha, o zigara Shefan nwa Azalaya, Maaseia onye na-achị obodo, na Joa nwa Joahaz, onye na-edekọ akụkọ, ka ha wuzie ụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke ya.

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

9 Ha jekwuru Hilkaya onyeisi nchụaja nye ya ego nke e webatara nʼụlọnsọ Chineke, nke ndị Livayị bụ ndị na-eche ọnụ ụzọ nakọtara site nʼaka ndị Manase na Ifrem, na ndị niile fọdụrụ nʼIzrel, na sitekwa nʼaka ndị Juda na Benjamin, na ndị niile bi na Jerusalem.

So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites at the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, Judah, and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem.

10 Mgbe ahụ, ha nyefere ya nʼaka ndị ikom ahọpụtara maka ilekọta ọrụ nʼụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị. Ndị ikom a kwụrụ ndị ọrụ rụziri ma mezie ụlọnsọ ahụ ụgwọ.

They put it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work of the house of the LORD, who in turn gave it to the workmen restoring and repairing the house of the LORD.

11 Ha nyekwara ndị ọkpọ ǹtu na ndị na-ewu ụlọ ego iji zụta nkume a wara awa, osisi iji mee ihe njikọta na osisi ịkwado ụlọ, maka iji rụzie ụlọ a nke ndị eze Juda hapụrụ ka ọ dakasịa.

They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to buy dressed stone, as well as timbers for couplings and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to deteriorate.

12 Ndị ọrụ a rụrụ ọrụ ha nʼikwesị ntụkwasị obi. Ndị nlekọta ha bụ ndị Livayị ndị a: Jahat na Ọbadaya ndị si nʼikwu Merari, na Zekaraya na Meshulam ndịisi nʼikwu Kohat. Ndị Livayị ndị ọzọ, ndị bụ ndị nwere nghọta nʼiti ngwa egwu dị iche iche

And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments,

13 ka e mere ndị nlekọta ndị na-ebu ibu. Ha lekọtakwara ndị niile rụrụ ọrụ dị iche iche. Ụfọdụ nʼime ndị Livayị ndị a bụ ndị ode akwụkwọ na ndị na-edekọ ihe, na ndị na-eche ọnụ ụzọ nche.

were over the laborers and supervised all who did the work, task by task. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.

14 Mgbe ha na-ewepụta ego anabatara nʼụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị, Hilkaya onye nchụaja chọtara akwụkwọ Iwu Onyenwe anyị, bụ nke o nyere site nʼaka Mosis.

While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD written by Moses.

15 Hilkaya sịrị Shefan ode akwụkwọ, “Achọtala m Akwụkwọ Iwu nʼime ụlọnsọ ukwu Onyenwe anyị.” O nyere ya Shefan.

And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.

16 Mgbe ahụ, Shefan buuru akwụkwọ ahụ wegara ya eze, gwa ya sị, “Ndị ozi gị na-eje ozi ha dịka ihe niile i tinyere ha nʼaka si dị.

Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands.

17 Ha enyefela ego niile nke dị nʼụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị nʼaka ndị nlekọta ọrụ, na ndị ọrụ.”

They have paid out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have put it into the hands of the supervisors and workers.”

18 Emesịa, Shefan ode akwụkwọ gwara eze okwu ọzọ sị ya, “O nwere akwụkwọ Hilkaya nyere m.” Shefan wepụtara ya gụọ ya na ntị eze.

Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

19 Mgbe eze nụrụ ihe niile e dere nʼakwụkwọ iwu ahụ, ọ dọwara uwe ya.

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes

20 O nyere Hilkaya, Ahikam nwa Shefan, Abdon nwa Maịka, Shefan ode akwụkwọ na Asaya, bụ onye ọrụ eze, iwu, sị ha,

and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:

21 “Gaanụ jụta Onyenwe anyị ase, nʼisi m na nʼisi ndị fọdụrụ nʼIzrel na Juda, banyere ihe niile e dere nʼakwụkwọ a bụ nke achọtara. Nʼihi na ọnụma Onyenwe anyị dị ukwuu bụ nke a wụkwasịrị anyị, nʼihi na ndị bu anyị ụzọ edebeghị okwu nke Onyenwe anyị, ha agbasoghị ihe niile e dere nʼime akwụkwọ a banyere anyị.”

“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

22 Ya mere, Hilkaya na ndị ahụ eze zipụrụ ya na ha, jekwuuru Hulda, onye amụma nwanyị, onye bụ nwunye Shalum, nwa Tokhat, nwa Hasra. Onye nlekọta ebe a na-edebe uwe. Hulda na-ebi na mpaghara Jerusalem e wuru ọhụrụ.

So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

23 Ọ sịrị ha, “Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke nke Izrel, kwuru: Gwanụ nwoke ahụ ziri unu ka unu bịakwutem, sị

And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you

24 ‘Otu a ka Onyenwe anyị na-ekwu: Ana m aga iweta mbibi ga-adakwasị ebe a na ndị niile bi nʼime ya, ọbụbụ ọnụ niile e dere nʼime akwụkwọ a, bụ nke a gụpụtara nʼihu eze Juda.

that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah,

25 Nʼihi na ha ajụla m, gbakụta m azụ, chụọ aja nsure ọkụ na-esi isi ụtọ nye chi ndị ọzọ, kpasuo m iwe site na ihe niile nke aka ha mepụtara, a ga-awụkwasị iwe m nʼebe a, ọ gaghị akwụsịkwa.’

because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’

26 Gwanụ eze Juda, onye ahụ zitere unu ịjụta ase site nʼọnụ Onyenwe anyị sị ya, ‘Ihe ndị a ka Onyenwe anyị, Chineke Izrel na-ekwu banyere okwu ndị ahụ ị nụrụ.

But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard,

27 Nʼihi na o wutere gị nʼobi, na i wedakwara onwe gị nʼala nʼihu Chineke, mgbe ị nụrụ ihe o kwuru megide ebe a na ndị bi nʼime ya, nʼihi na i wedara onwe gị nʼala nʼihu m, ma dọwaakwa uwe gị, bekwaa akwa nʼihu m. Mụ onwe m anụla, otu a ka Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.

because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

28 Ugbu a, aga m achịkọta gị nye nna nna gị ha, a ga-eli gị nʼudo. Anya gị agaghị ahụ mbibi nke m ga-eme ka ọ bịakwasị ebe a na ndị bi nʼime ya.’” Ha laghachiri inye eze ọsịsa ya.

‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.

29 Mgbe ahụ, eze kpọrọ ndị okenye Juda na Jerusalem niile.

Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 Ọ gara nʼụlọnsọ ukwu Onyenwe anyị, ya na ndị ikom Juda niile, ndị niile bi na Jerusalem, na ndị nchụaja, na ndị Livayị, na ndị mmadụ niile, site nʼonye nta ruo na onye ukwu. Ọ gụpụtara na ntị onye ọbụla okwu niile si nʼakwụkwọ ọgbụgba ndụ ahụ, bụ nke achọtara nʼime ụlọnsọ Onyenwe anyị.

And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people small and great—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

31 Eze guzoro nʼakụkụ ogidi, kwee nkwa nʼihu Onyenwe anyị, ịgbaso Onyenwe anyị, na idebe iwu ya na ụkpụrụ ya niile, na iji obi ya niile, na mkpụrụobi ya niile rube isi nʼokwu ọgbụgba ndụ ahụ e dere nʼakwụkwọ ahụ.

So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book.

32 O mekwara ka ndị niile nọ na Jerusalem na Benjamin kwee Onyenwe anyị otu nkwa ahụ. Ndị niile bi na Jerusalem mezukwara ihe ndị a dịka ọgbụgba ndụ Chineke, bụ Chineke nna nna ha si dị.

Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand in agreement to it. So all the people of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 Josaya sitere nʼala niile bụ nke ndị Izrel wezuga ihe arụ niile bụ arụsị, o mere ndị niile nọ nʼIzrel nʼoge ahụ ka ha fee Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke ha. Nʼụbọchị ndụ ya niile, ha esiteghị nʼiso Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke nke nna nna wezuga onwe ha.

And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.