2 Imilando 19
1 UJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda wathi esebuyela eJerusalema esigodlweni sakhe ephephile,
When King Jehoshaphat was returning safely to his palace in 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.
the prophet Jehu, the son of [the prophet] Hanani, went out of the city to meet the king, and said to him, “It was not right for you to help a wicked man and to love those who hate Yahweh. Because of what you have done, Yahweh is angry with you.
3 Kodwa-ke kukhona okuhle ngawe, ngoba uziqedile elizweni lonke izinsika zikankulunkulukazi u-Ashera, inhliziyo yakho wayimisela ukudinga uNkulunkulu.”
But you have done some good things; you got rid of the poles in this country for [worshiping the goddess] Asherah, and you have strongly determined to do what pleases God.”
4 UJehoshafathi wayehlala eJerusalema, waphuma wahambela abantu kusukela eBherishebha kusiya elizweni lamaqaqa lako-Efrayimi wabaphendula ukuba bamkhonze uThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho babo.
Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. But [one time], like he had done once previously, he went out among all the people in the country, from Beersheba [city in the far south] to the hilly area of [the tribe of] Ephraim [in the far north], and he convinced them to return to [worshiping] Yahweh, the God whom their ancestors [worshiped].
5 Wakhetha abehluleli elizweni, kuwo wonke amadolobho abiyelweyo akoJuda.
He appointed judges throughout Judah, in each of the cities that had walls around them.
6 Wabatshela wathi: “Linanzelele elikwenzayo, ngoba kalehluleli umuntu kodwa lehlulela uThixo, yena uzalisiza ekwahluleleni.
He told them, “Make your decisions carefully, because you are judging cases not [in order] to [please] people but to [please] Yahweh. And he will be watching you whenever you make a decision.
7 Ngakho mesabeni uThixo linanzelele elikwenzayo, yahlulelani ngonanzelelo ngoba kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu kakukho ukwehlulela kubi loba ubandlululo loba ukufumbathisana.”
So now revere Yahweh, and judge cases carefully, [and do not forget that] Yahweh our God never acts unjustly, and he never does what people want because of their offering him money; he never accepts bribes.”
8 Lakhona eJerusalema, uJehoshafathi wabeka abaLevi abathile labaphristi lezinhloko zezindlu zabako-Israyeli ukuba balawule umthetho kaThixo balamule lemibango. Babehlala eJerusalema.
In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some priests and other descendants of Levi and some leaders of Israeli families [to be judges]. He told them to do what Yahweh’s laws said was right when they settled disputes. Those men lived in Jerusalem.
9 Wabanika iziqondiso ezithi: “Kumele lethembeke ngokumesaba uThixo, ngobuqotho langenhliziyo nye epheleleyo.
He told them this: “You must always do your work faithfully, revering Yahweh.
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.
In every dispute that your fellow Israelis who live in the cities want you to settle, you must warn them to not sin against Yahweh [by telling lies during the trial]. If you do not warn them, God will punish both you and your fellow Israelis. If you warn them, you will not be sinning. You must warn them whether [someone has accused them] of murdering someone, or of disobeying some other law or command or decree [of Yahweh].
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.”
Amariah the Supreme Priest will supervise you in any matter that Yahweh is concerned about, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will supervise you in any matter that I am responsible for. And the descendants of Levi will assist you. Act courageously, and I pray that Yahweh will help those who do their work well.”
