2 Ebyomumirembe 34
1 Yosiya yali wa myaka munaana bwe yalya obwakabaka, era n’afugira emyaka amakumi asatu mu gumu mu Yerusaalemi.
Josiah was eight years old when he became the king [of Judah]. He ruled from Jerusalem for 31 years.
2 N’akola ebirungi mu maaso ga Mukama, n’atambulira mu makubo ga Dawudi jjajjaawe, n’akwata ekkubo lya Mukama eggolokofu.
He did things that were pleasing to Yahweh and conducted his life like his ancestor King David had done. He fully obeyed [IDM] all the laws of God.
3 Mu mwaka ogw’omunaana ogw’okufuga kwe, ng’akyali muto, n’atandika okunoonya Katonda wa Dawudi jjajjaawe, era mu mwaka ogw’ekkumi n’ebiri n’atandika okuggya ebifo ebigulumivu, ne Baasera, n’ebifaananyi ebyole, n’ebifaananyi ebisaanuuse mu Yuda ne mu Yerusaalemi.
When he had been ruling for almost eight years, while he was still a young man, he began to worship God like his ancestor [King] David had done. Four years later, he began to get rid of all the pagan shrines on hilltops in Jerusalem and in [other places in] Judah, and the poles to [honor the goddess] Asherah, and the carved idols and statues of gods.
4 N’alagira bamenyeemenye ebyoto bya Baali, n’atemaatema ebyoto kwe baayoterezanga obubaane ebyali waggulu waabyo, n’amenyaamenya ne Baasera, n’ebifaananyi ebyole, n’ebifaananyi ebisaanuuse; n’abisesebbula, enfuufu yaabyo n’agimansula ku malaalo g’abo abaaweerangayo ssaddaaka.
While he directed them, his workers tore down the altars where people worshiped Baal. They smashed the altars that were near those altars, where people burned incense. They smashed the poles [honor the goddess] Asherah and the idols and statues. They smashed them to bits and scattered the bits over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to them.
5 N’ayokera amagumba ga bakabona abaakolanga eby’ebivve ebyo ku byoto ebyo, n’atukuza Yuda ne Yerusaalemi.
They burned the bones of the priests [who had offered sacrifices]; they burned them on their own altars. In that way Josiah caused Jerusalem and other places in Judah to be acceptable places to worship Yahweh again.
6 Ne mu bibuga bya Manase, ne Efulayimu, ne Simyoni, okutuukira ddala mu Nafutaali, ne mu matongo gaabyo okubyetooloola,
In the towns in [the tribes of] Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far [north] as [the tribe of] Naphtali and in the ruins around all those towns,
7 n’amenyaamenya ebyoto ne Baasera, n’asesebbula n’ebifaananyi ebyole, n’atemaatema ebyoto byonna kwe baayokeranga obubaane mu Isirayiri yonna, n’oluvannyuma n’addayo e Yerusaalemi.
Josiah’s [workers] tore down the pagan altars and the poles to [honor the goddess] Asherah, and crushed the idols to powder. They also smashed to pieces all the altars for burning incense throughout Israel. Then Josiah returned to Jerusalem.
8 Awo mu mwaka ogw’ekkumi n’omunaana ogw’okufuga kwe ng’amaze okulongoosa ensi ne yeekaalu, n’alonda Safani mutabani wa Azaliya, ne Maaseya omwami w’ekibuga, ne Yowa mutabani wa Yowakazi omujjukiza, okuddaabiriza yeekaalu ya Mukama Katonda we.
When Josiah had been ruling for almost 18 years, he [did something else to] cause the land and the temple to be acceptable places to worship Yahweh. He sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the governor of the city and Joah the son of Joahaz, who wrote on a scroll what happened in the city, to repair the temple of Yahweh.
9 Ne bagenda eri Kirukiya kabona asinga obukulu ne bawaayo ensimbi ezaaleetebwa mu yeekaalu ya Katonda, Abaleevi abaggazi ze baali basoloozezza mu bantu b’e Manase, ne Efulayimu, n’ekitundu kyonna ekyasigalawo, ne Yuda yonna, ne Benyamini, n’okuva eri abantu b’e Yerusaalemi.
They went to Hilkiah the Supreme Priest and gave him the money that had been brought to the temple. That was the money that the descendants of Levi who guarded the doors of the temple had collected from the people of [the tribes of] Manasseh and Ephraim and [other places in northern] Israel, and also from all the people in Jerusalem and other places in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
10 Ne bazikwasa abakozi abaalondebwa okulabirira omulimu gwa yeekaalu ya Mukama. Abo be basajja abaasasulanga abakozi abaddaabirizanga n’okulongoosa yeekaalu.
Then Hilkiah gave some of the money to the men who had been appointed to supervise the work of repairing the temple. The supervisors paid the men who did the repair work.
11 Ababazzi n’abazimbi nabo ne baweebwa ensimbi okugula amayinja amawoole, n’embaawo ez’ebizimbe bakabaka ba Yuda bye baalagajjalira okuddaabiriza.
They also gave some of the money to the carpenters and builders to buy the cut stones and the timber for the joists and the beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to decay.
12 Abasajja ne bakola omulimu n’obwesigwa. Abaabalabiriranga baali: Yakasi ne Obadiya Abaleevi ab’omu kika kya Merali, ne Zekkaliya ne Mesullamu ab’omu kika ky’Abakokasi. Abaleevi bonna abaakubanga ebivuga
The workers did their work faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah, who were descendants of [Levi’s son] Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, who were descendants of [Levi’s son] Kohath. All the other descendants of Levi, those who played musical instruments well,
13 be baavunaanyizibwanga abapakasi, n’okulabirira abakozi bonna mu kuweereza okw’engeri zonna. Abamu ku Baleevi baali bawandiisi, n’abalala ng’abaami, n’abalala nga baggazi.
supervised all the workers as they did their various jobs. Some of the descendants of Levi were secretaries and some kept records and some guarded the gates [of the temple].
14 Awo bwe baali bakuŋŋaanya ensimbi ze baggya mu yeekaalu ya Mukama, Kirukiya kabona, n’azuula ekitabo eky’amateeka ga Mukama agaaweebwa Musa.
While they were giving to the supervisors the money that had been taken to the temple, Hilkiah the [Supreme] Priest found a scroll on which were written the laws that Yahweh had told Moses to give to the people.
15 Awo Kirukiya kabona n’agamba Safani omuwandiisi nti, “Nzudde ekitabo eky’amateeka mu yeekaalu ya Mukama.” N’akiwa Safani.
So Hilkiah said to Shaphan, “I have found in the temple a scroll on which are written the laws [that God gave to Moses]!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.
16 Safani n’akitwalira kabaka, n’amutegeeza ne ku by’omulimu ng’agamba nti, “Byonna abaddu bo bye baalagirwa babikola.
Shaphan [took the scroll] to the king and said to him, “Your officials are doing everything that you told them to do.
17 Ensimbi ezaali mu yeekaalu ya Mukama ziweereddwa abalabirira n’abakozi.”
They have taken the money that was in the temple, and they have given it to the men who will supervise the workers who will repair the temple.”
18 Safani omuwandiisi n’ategeeza kabaka nti, “Kirukiya kabona ampadde ekitabo.” Awo Safani n’akisomera kabaka.
Then Shaphan said to the king, “[I have brought to you] a scroll [that] Hilkiah gave to me.” And Shaphan started to read it to the king.
19 Kabaka bwe yawulira ebigambo by’amateeka, n’ayuza ebyambalo bye.
When the king heard the laws [that were written in the scroll], he tore his clothes [because he was very dismayed/worried].
20 N’alagira Kirukiya ne Akikamu mutabani wa Safani, ne Abudoni mutabani wa Mikka, ne Safani omuwandiisi, ne Asaya omuddu wa kabaka, ng’ayogera nti,
Then he gave these instructions to Hilkiah, to Shaphan’s son Ahikam, to Micah’s son Abdon, to Shaphan, and to Asaiah the king’s special advisor:
21 “Mugende mumbulize ku Mukama, nze n’abasigadde mu Isirayiri ne mu Yuda, ku bikwata ku bigambo eby’omu kitabo ekizuuliddwa, kubanga obusungu bwa Mukama bungi nnyo nnyini era butubuubuukirako olwa bajjajjaffe abataagoberera kigambo kya Mukama okukikola nga bwe kyawandiikibwa mu kitabo kino.”
“Go and ask Yahweh for me, and for all his people who are still alive in Judah and Israel, about what is written in this scroll that has been found. Because [it is clear that] Yahweh is very angry with us because our ancestors disobeyed what Yahweh said; they did not obey the laws that are written on this scroll.”
22 Awo Kirukiya n’abo kabaka be yali atumye ne bagenda eri Kuluda nnabbi omukazi, muka Sallumu mutabani wa Tokasi muzzukulu wa Kasula omuwanika w’ebyambalo. Yabeeranga mu Yerusaalemi mu kitundu ekyokubiri.
So Hilkiah and the others went to talk with a woman whose name was Huldah, who was a prophetess who lived in the newer part of Jerusalem. Her husband Shallum who was the son of Tikvah, took care of the robes that were worn [in the temple].
23 N’abagamba nti, “Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri nti, ‘Mutegeeze omusajja abatumye nti,
[When they told her what the king had said, ] she said to them, “This is what Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], says: ‘Go back and tell the king who sent you
24 bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama nti, “Laba ndireeta ku kifo kino ne ku bantu baamu akabi, n’ebikolimo byonna ebyawandiikibwa mu kitabo, ekyasomeddwa mu maaso ga kabaka wa Yuda.
that this is what Yahweh says: “Listen to this carefully. I am going to cause a disaster to strike Jerusalem and all the people who live here. I will cause them to experience the curses that were written in the scroll that was read to the king of Judah.
25 Kubanga banvuddeko ne bookera bakatonda abalala obubaane, era bansunguwazizza n’emirimu gyonna egy’emikono gyabwe. Kyennaava mbasunguwalira ne wataba n’omu akkakkanya busungu bwange.”’
I will do that because they have rejected me, and they burn incense to [honor] other gods. They have caused me to become very angry because of all the idols that they have made (OR, because of all the wicked things that they have done), [and my anger is like] a fire that will not be extinguished.
26 Naye mugambe kabaka wa Yuda eyabatumye okujja okwebuuza ku Mukama nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri nti,
The king of Judah sent you to ask what I, Yahweh, want. Go and tell him that this is what I, Yahweh, the God whom you Israelis worship, say about what you read:
27 “Kubanga omutima gwo gubadde mumenyefu ne weetoowaza mu maaso ga Katonda, bwe wawulidde ebigambo bye, ebikwata ku kifo kino n’abo abakibeeramu, ne weetoowaza mu maaso gange, n’oyuza ebyambalo byo, n’okaabira mu maaso gange, nkuwulidde.
“Because you heeded [what was written in the scroll], and you humbled yourself when you heard what I said to warn [about what would happen to] this city and the people who live here, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you.
28 Laba, ndikukuŋŋaanyiza eri bajjajjaabo, n’ofa mirembe, era amaaso go tegalirega ku kabi ke ndireeta ku kifo kino ne ku bantu baamu.”’” Ne bazaayo obubaka eri kabaka.
So I will allow you to die and be buried peacefully. I will cause a great disaster to strike this place and the people who live here, but you will not [be alive to] see it.”’” So they reported her reply to the king.
29 Awo kabaka n’akuŋŋaanya abakadde bonna aba Yuda n’ab’omu Yerusaalemi.
Then the king summoned all the elders of Jerusalem and [other places in] Judea.
30 N’ayambuka mu yeekaalu ya Mukama, n’abantu bonna aba Yuda, n’abantu b’e Yerusaalemi, ne bakabona, n’abaleevi, n’abantu bonna ab’ekitiibwa n’abatali ba kitiibwa. N’asoma ebigambo byonna eby’omu kitabo eky’endagaano, ekyazuulibwa mu yeekaalu ya Mukama.
They went up together to the temple with the leaders of Judah and many other people of Jerusalem and the priests and other descendants of Levi, from the least important to the most important ones. And while they listened, the king read to them everything that was in the scroll containing God’s laws that had been found in the temple.
31 Kabaka n’ayimirira mu kifo kye, ne yeeyama mu maaso ga Mukama, okutambuliranga mu mpya za Mukama n’okukwatanga amateeka ge, n’ebyo bye yategeeza, n’ebiragiro bye, n’omutima gwe gwonna n’omwoyo gwe gwonna, okutuukirizanga ebigambo ebyawandiikibwa mu kitabo.
Then the king stood next to the pillar [at the entrance to the temple, where kings stood when they announced something important], and while Yahweh was listening, he repeated his promise to very sincerely and completely obey Yahweh and all his commands and regulations and decrees that were written on the scroll.
32 Oluvannyuma n’alagira bonna abaali mu Yerusaalemi ne mu Benyamini okweyama. Abatuuze b’omu Yerusaalemi ne bakola ng’endagaano ya Katonda, Katonda wa bajjajjaabwe bw’egamba.
Then the king said that everyone who lived in Jerusalem and from [the tribe of] Benjamin should promise that they also would obey those laws. And they did that, agreeing that they would keep the agreement that God, whom their ancestors had worshiped, had made with them.
33 Yosiya n’aggya eby’emizizo byonna ku butaka bwonna obw’Abayisirayiri, n’alagira bonna abaali mu Isirayiri okuweerezanga Mukama Katonda waabwe. Mu kufuga kwe kwonna, tebaava ku Mukama Katonda wa bajjajjaabwe.
Josiah [instructed his workers to] remove all the detestable idols from everywhere in the land of the Israeli people, and he commanded that all the people from Israel who were there should worship [only] Yahweh their God. And as long as Josiah was alive, the people did what was pleasing to Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors [worshiped].
