2 Berɛsosɛm 34

1 Yosia bɛdii adeɛ no, na wadi mfirinhyia nwɔtwe, na ɔdii ɔhene wɔ Yerusalem mfirinhyia aduasa baako.

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

2 Ɔyɛɛ deɛ ɛsɔ Awurade ani, yɛɛ deɛ ne tete agya Dawid yɛeɛ no bi. Wamfiri adeteneneeyɛ ho.

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 Yosia hyɛɛ aseɛ hwehwɛɛ ne tete agya Dawid Onyankopɔn akyiri ɛkwan wɔ ɛberɛ a na ɔda so yɛ abɔfra a wadi adeɛ mfeɛ nwɔtwe. Na ne mfeɛ dumienu so no, ɔdwiraa Yuda ne Yerusalem, sɛee abosonsom asɔreeɛ nyinaa, Asera afɔrebukyia, ahoni a wɔasene ne nsɛsodeɛ a wɔagu no nyinaa.

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 Ɔhwɛ ma wɔbubuu Baal nsɛsodeɛ afɔrebukyia no ne nnuhwam afɔrebukyia no nyinaa guiɛ. Ɔmaa wɔdwerɛɛ Asera afɔrebukyia, ahoni a wɔasene ne nsɛsodeɛ a wɔagu no nyinaa, na wɔto petee awufoɔ a wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ maa wɔn no damena so.

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 Afei, ɔhyee abosomfoɔ nnompe. Ɔhyee no wɔn ankasa afɔrebukyia so, nam so dwiraa Yuda ne Yerusalem ho.

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

6 Ɔyɛɛ saa ara wɔ Manase, Efraim ne Simeon nkuro so, kɔeɛ ara mpo, kɔduruu Naftali.

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

7 Ɔsɛee abosonsomfoɔ afɔrebukyia, Asera afɔrebukyia, na ɔyam ahoni no muhumuhu. Ɔdwirii nnuhwam afɔrebukyia a ɛwɔ Israelman mu nyinaa, na ɔsane kɔɔ Yerusalem.

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 Nʼadedie mfeɛ dunwɔtwe so no a ɔwiee asase no ne asɔredan no ho dwira no, Yosia yii Asalia babarima Safan, Maaseia a ɔyɛ Yerusalem amrado ne Yoahas babarima Yoa, adehyeɛ abakɔsɛm twerɛfoɔ, sɛ wɔnsiesie Awurade, ne Onyankopɔn asɔredan no.

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 Wɔde sika a Lewifoɔ a wɔsom sɛ aponoanohwɛfoɔ agyegye wɔ Onyankopɔn Asɔredan no ho maa ɔsɔfopanin Hilkia. Manase ne Efraim nkurɔfoɔ ne Israel nkaeɛfoɔ nyinaa ne Yuda ne Benyamin ne Yerusalemfoɔ na wɔde akyɛdeɛ no baeɛ.

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 Ɔde sika no maa nnipa a wɔayi wɔn sɛ wɔnhwɛ nsiesie Awurade Asɔredan no. Na wɔtuaa wɔn a wɔyɛɛ adwuma no ka.

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 Wɔbɔɔ nnua dwumfoɔ ne adansifoɔ paa, tɔɔ aboɔ a wɔatwa a wɔde bɛsiesie afasuo no ne nnua a wɔde bɛyɛ nsamsoɔ ne mpunan. Wɔsiesiee deɛ anka Yuda ahemfo a wɔdii ɛkan no rema asɛe no.

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 Adwumayɛfoɔ no de nokorɛdie yɛɛ adwuma. Yahat ne Obadia a wɔyɛ Lewifoɔ a wɔfiri Merarifoɔ abusua mu, ne Sakaria ne Mesulam a wɔyɛ Lewifoɔ a wɔfiri Kohatfoɔ abusua mu na wɔhwɛɛ adwumafoɔ no so. Lewifoɔ a aka a wɔn nyinaa wɔ nnwontodeɛ ho nimdeɛ no,

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 wɔmaa wɔyɛɛ sohwɛfoɔ maa adwumayɛfoɔ akuo hodoɔ. Na afoforɔ bi nso yɛɛ adwuma sɛ atwerɛfoɔ, mpanimfoɔ ne aponoanohwɛfoɔ.

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

14 Na ɔsɔfopanin Hilkia retwerɛtwerɛ sika a wɔagyegye wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no ho no, ɔhunuu Awurade mmara nwoma a wɔnam Mose so de maeɛ no.

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 Na Hilkia ka kyerɛɛ Safan a ɔyɛ asɛnnie twerɛfoɔ no sɛ, “Mahunu mmara nwoma no wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu.” Na Hilkia de nwoma mmobɔeɛ no maa Safan.

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 Safan de nwoma mmobɔeɛ no kɔmaa ɔhene kaa sɛ, “Wo mpanimfoɔ no reyɛ biribiara a wɔkyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnyɛ no.

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

17 Sika a wɔgyegyee no Awurade Asɔredan no mu no, wɔde ama sohwɛfoɔ ne adwumayɛfoɔ no.”

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 Safan ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Ɔsɔfopanin Hilkia de nwoma mmobɔeɛ bi ama me.” Na Safan kenkan kyerɛɛ ɔhene.

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 Ɛberɛ a ɔhene no tee mmara no mu nsɛm no, ɔde ahometeɛ sunsuanee ne ntadeɛ mu.

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

20 Afei, ɔhyɛɛ Hilkia, Safan babarima Ahikam, Mika babarima Abdon, asɛnnie twerɛfoɔ Safan ne ɔhene ɔfotufoɔ Asaia sɛ,

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

21 “Monkɔ Asɔredan no mu na mo ne Awurade nkɔkasa mma me ne Israel ne Yuda nkaeɛfoɔ nyinaa. Mommisa no nsɛm a wɔatwerɛ wɔ saa nwoma mmobɔeɛ a wɔahunu no ho nsɛm. Awurade abufuo aba yɛn so, ɛfiri sɛ, yɛn agyanom anni Awurade asɛm so. Yɛnyɛ deɛ nwoma mmobɔeɛ yi ka sɛ yɛnyɛ.”

“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 Hilkia ne mmarima a aka no kɔɔ odiyifoɔ baa Hulda a na ɔyɛ Tikwa babarima Salum yere ne Hasra a na ɔhwɛ Asɔredan mu adakaten so no nana nkyɛn, wɔ Yerusalem fa bi a wɔfrɛ hɔ sɛ Misne.

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 Ɔbaa no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, akasa! Monkɔka nkyerɛ onipa a ɔsomaa mo no sɛ,

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

24 ‘Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Akyinnyeɛ biara nni ho sɛ, mɛsɛe saa kuro yi ne emu nnipa. Nnome a wɔatwerɛ wɔ nwoma mmobɔeɛ a moakenkane yi mu nyinaa bɛba mu.

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 Ɛfiri sɛ, nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda apa me na wɔsom abosonsomfoɔ anyame. Ɛno enti, me bo afu wɔn yie wɔ biribiara a wɔayɛ ho. Mʼabufuo bɛhwie agu saa beaeɛ ha, na biribiara rentumi nsi ano.’

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 Na monkɔ Yudahene a ɔsomaa mo sɛ monkɔhwehwɛ Awurade no nkyɛn, na monka nkyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Yei na Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, ka fa asɛm a motee seesei no ho.

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 Ɛberɛ a wotee asɛm a meka de tiaa saa kuropɔn yi ne emu nnipa no, ɛhaa wo, maa wobrɛɛ wo ho ase Onyankopɔn anim. Wobrɛɛ wo ho ase, de ahometeɛ sunsuanee wʼatadeɛ mu, de ahonu suu wɔ mʼanim. Enti, nokorɛm, mate wo nne, Awurade na ɔseɛ.

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 Meremma amanehunu a mahyehyɛ atia kuropɔn yi ne emu nnipa no mma mu, kɔsi sɛ wobɛwu na wɔasie wo asomdwoeɛ mu. Worenhunu amanehunu a mede bɛba beaeɛ yi so.’” Enti, wɔsane de ɔbaa no nkra kɔmaa ɔhene no.

‘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 Na ɔhene no frɛɛ ntuanofoɔ a wɔwɔ Yuda ne Yerusalem nyinaa.

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

30 Na ɔhene no ne Yuda ne Yerusalem manfoɔ nyinaa ne asɔfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ, nnipa no nyinaa, firi ɔkɛseɛ so kɔsi akumaa so, kɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu. Ɛhɔ na ɔhene no kenkanee apam nwoma a wɔhunuu no Awurade Asɔredan mu no kyerɛɛ wɔn.

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 Ɔhene no gyinaa nʼafa wɔ afadum no nkyɛn, na ɔtii apam no mu wɔ Awurade anim. Ɔhyɛɛ bɔ sɛ ɔfiri nʼakoma ne ne kra nyinaa mu bɛdi Awurade ɔhyɛ nsɛm, ahyɛdeɛ ne mmara so. Ɔhyɛɛ bɔ sɛ, ɔbɛdi apam no mu nhyehyɛeɛ a wɔatwerɛ wɔ nwoma mmobɔeɛ no mu no so.

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 Na ɔka kyerɛɛ obiara a ɔwɔ Yerusalem ne nnipa a wɔwɔ Benyamin no sɛ, wɔnhyɛ bɔ saa ara. Ɔmanfoɔ a wɔwɔ Yerusalem yɛɛ saa no, wɔde tii wɔne Onyankopɔn, wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn apam no mu.

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 Enti, Yosia yiyii ahoni a ɛyɛ akyiwadeɛ no firii Israel asase no nyinaa so. Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ obiara nsom Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn. Na ne nkwa nna a aka no mu no nyinaa, wɔannane wɔn akyi ankyerɛ Awurade wɔn agyanom Onyankopɔn no da.

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.