2 Imilando 19

1 UJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda wathi esebuyela eJerusalema esigodlweni sakhe ephephile,

And Josaphat king of Juda returned to his house at Jerusalem.

2 uJehu umboni, indodana kaHanani, waphuma ukuba ayomhlangabeza wasesithi enkosini, “Kufanele yini ukuba uncedise ababi njalo uthande abamzondayo uThixo? Ngenxa yalokho, ulaka lukaThixo luphezu kwakho.

And there went out to meet him Jeu the prophet the son of Anani, and said to him, King Josaphat, doest thou help a sinner, or act friendly towards one hated of the Lord? Therefore has wrath come upon thee from the Lord.

3 Kodwa-ke kukhona okuhle ngawe, ngoba uziqedile elizweni lonke izinsika zikankulunkulukazi u-Ashera, inhliziyo yakho wayimisela ukudinga uNkulunkulu.”

Nevertheless [some] good things have been found in thee, forasmuch as thou didst remove the groves from the land of Juda, and didst direct thine heart to seek after the Lord.

4 UJehoshafathi wayehlala eJerusalema, waphuma wahambela abantu kusukela eBherishebha kusiya elizweni lamaqaqa lako-Efrayimi wabaphendula ukuba bamkhonze uThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho babo.

And Josaphat dwelt in Jerusalem: and he again went out among the people from Bersabee to the mount of Ephraim, and turned them back to the Lord God of their fathers.

5 Wakhetha abehluleli elizweni, kuwo wonke amadolobho abiyelweyo akoJuda.

And he appointed judges in all the strong cities of Juda, city by city.

6 Wabatshela wathi: “Linanzelele elikwenzayo, ngoba kalehluleli umuntu kodwa lehlulela uThixo, yena uzalisiza ekwahluleleni.

And he said to the judges, Take good heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, and with you are matters of judgment.

7 Ngakho mesabeni uThixo linanzelele elikwenzayo, yahlulelani ngonanzelelo ngoba kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu kakukho ukwehlulela kubi loba ubandlululo loba ukufumbathisana.”

And now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, and be wary, and do [your duty]: for there is no unrighteousness with the Lord our God, neither [is it for him] to respect persons, nor take bribes.

8 Lakhona eJerusalema, uJehoshafathi wabeka abaLevi abathile labaphristi lezinhloko zezindlu zabako-Israyeli ukuba balawule umthetho kaThixo balamule lemibango. Babehlala eJerusalema.

Moreover Josaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the priests, and Levites, and heads of houses of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and to judge the dwellers in Jerusalem.

9 Wabanika iziqondiso ezithi: “Kumele lethembeke ngokumesaba uThixo, ngobuqotho langenhliziyo nye epheleleyo.

And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, in truth and with a perfect heart.

10 Wonke amacala eza kini evela ezihlotsheni zenu kuwo wonke amadolobho elihlala kiwo loba kungamacala okuchitha igazi loba awokwephula umthetho, imilayo, izimiso loba iziqondiso, baxwayiseni ukuba bangoni kuThixo, funa ulaka lwakhe lwehlele phezu kwenu labafowenu. Lingenza lokho aliyikwenza isono.

Whatsoever man of your brethren that dwell in their cities [shall bring] the cause that comes before you, between blood [and] blood, and between precept and commandment, and ordinances and judgments, ye shall even decide for them; so they shall not sin against the Lord, and there shall not be wrath upon you, and upon your brethren: thus ye shall do, and ye shall not sin.

11 U-Amariya umphristi omkhulu nguye ozalikhangela emsebenzini wonke kaThixo, kuthi uZebhadiya indodana ka-Ishumayeli, umkhokheli wesizwe sakoJuda alikhokhele ezintweni eziqondane lenkosi, abaLevi labo bazakuba yizikhulu zenu. Yenzani ngesibindi, njalo sengathi uThixo angaba lalabo abazakwenza ngobuqotho.”

And, behold, Amarias the priest is head over you in every matter of the Lord; and Zabdias the son of Ismael is head over the house of Juda in every matter of the king; and the scribes and Levites are before you: be strong and active, and the Lord shall be with the good.