2 Imilando 19
1 UJehoshafathi inkosi yakoJuda wasebuyela endlini yakhe ngokuthula eJerusalema.
When King Jehoshaphat was returning safely to his palace in Jerusalem,
2 UJehu indodana kaHanani umboni wasephuma ukumhlangabeza, wathi enkosini uJehoshafathi: Unganceda yini omubi, uthande labo abazonda iNkosi? Ngenxa yalokhu-ke kulolaka phezu kwakho oluvela ebusweni beNkosi.
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 Loba kunjalo izinto ezinhle zitholwe kuwe, ngoba ususile izixuku elizweni, walungisa inhliziyo yakho ukumdinga 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 wasehlala eJerusalema; wabuya waphuma wahamba phakathi kwabantu, kusukela eBherishebha kusiya entabeni yakoEfrayimi, wababuyisela eNkosini, uNkulunkulu waboyise.
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 Wasemisa abahluleli elizweni kuyo yonke imizi ebiyelweyo yakoJuda, kumuzi ngomuzi.
He appointed judges throughout Judah, in each of the cities that had walls around them.
6 Wasesithi kubahluleli: Bonani elikwenzayo, ngoba kalehluleleli umuntu kodwa iNkosi, elani endabeni yokwahlulela.
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-ke uvalo ngeNkosi kalube phezu kwenu, linanzelele likwenze, ngoba eNkosini uNkulunkulu wethu kakulabubi lokukhangela ubuso lokwemukela izivalamlomo.
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 Futhi leJerusalema uJehoshafathi wasemisa abanye kumaLevi labapristi lakunhloko zaboyise zakoIsrayeli kusahlulelo seNkosi lakumibango, sebebuyele 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 Wasebalaya esithi: Lizakwenza njalo ekuyesabeni iNkosi, ngobuqotho langenhliziyo epheleleyo.
He told them this: “You must always do your work faithfully, revering Yahweh.
10 Lawuphi umbango oza kini ovela kubafowenu abahlala emizini yabo, phakathi kwegazi legazi, phakathi komthetho lomlayo, izimiso lezahlulelo, lizabaxwayisa ukuze bangabi lecala eNkosini, lolaka lwehlele phezu kwenu laphezu kwabafowenu. Lizakwenza njalo, futhi lingabi lacala.
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 Khangelani-ke, uAmariya umpristi oyinhloko uphezu kwenu kulo lonke udaba lukaJehova, loZebhadiya indodana kaIshmayeli, umbusi wendlu yakoJuda, kulo lonke udaba lwenkosi; labaphathi amaLevi baphambi kwenu. Qinani likwenze; iNkosi-ke izakuba lolungileyo.
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.”
