2 Chronicles 34

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.

At the tender age of eight, Josiah ascended the throne, ruling over Jerusalem with wisdom and grace for a remarkable thirty-one years.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

He acted rightly, pleasing God, following his father David's path without straying either way.

For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

In his eighth year as king, still youthful, he started to pursue the God of his father, David. By his twelfth year, he initiated a cleansing of Judah and Jerusalem, removing all idols and sacred groves.

And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.

In his presence, they passionately destroyed the altars of Baalim. The lofty idols were cut down by him. The sacred groves, carved and molten images were shattered into dust, scattering it over the graves of those who had worshipped them.

And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

He set the priests' bones ablaze on their own altars, purifying Judah and Jerusalem with a fiery cleanse.

And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.

He passionately worked in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and even Naphtali, using their tools all around.

And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

After he passionately destroyed the altars and sacred trees, crushed the carved idols into dust, and eradicated all false gods across Israel, he peacefully returned to Jerusalem.

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

In his 18th year as king, after cleansing the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan, Maaseiah, and Joah to restore God's house, filled with a sense of duty and reverence.

And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.

When they met Hilkiah, the chief priest, they handed over the money collected for God's house. This money was gathered by the Levite gatekeepers from Manasseh, Ephraim, and the remaining people of Israel, including Judah and Benjamin. Afterward, they headed back to Jerusalem.

And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:

They entrusted the funds to the skilled craftsmen overseeing the Lord's house, who used it to repair and restore the sacred sanctuary.

Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

They gave it to the craftsmen and builders to purchase carved stone and timber for joining, and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let fall into ruin.

And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.

The men worked with unwavering dedication. Their leaders were Jahath and Obadiah, from the Levite clan of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, from the Kohathites. They were all guided by the Levites, who were skilled in playing musical instruments.

Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.

They were in charge of the men who carried the loads, supervising all kinds of work. Among them, the Levites served as writers, officials, and gatekeepers.

And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.

As they presented the offerings collected for the Lord's house, Priest Hilkiah discovered a sacred book - the law of the Lord, a gift from Moses.

And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.

With a sense of awe, Hilkiah told Shaphan, "I've discovered the sacred law book in God's house." He then handed it over to Shaphan with reverence.

And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.

Shaphan, filled with duty, brought the book to the king. He reassured him, saying, "Your servants have faithfully carried out all that you entrusted to them."

And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.

They collected all the money found in the Lord's house and handed it over to the supervisors and workers.

Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

Shaphan, the royal scribe, excitedly informed the king, "Hilkiah, the priest, has gifted me a book." With anticipation, he began to read it aloud to the king.

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.

Upon hearing the words of the law, the king was so overwhelmed, he tore his clothes in distress.

And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king’s, saying,

The king, with a firm voice, ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam - Shaphan's son, Abdon - Micah's son, Shaphan the writer, and Asaiah, his loyal servant, saying,

Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.

Please, seek God's guidance for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah about the discovered book's teachings. God's anger is immense because our ancestors failed to follow His teachings as written in this book.

And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.

Hilkiah and the king's chosen men sought guidance from Huldah, a respected prophetess and wife of Shallum, son of Tikvath, son of Hasrah, who was in charge of the royal wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the city's second quarter, and they went to her for her wisdom.

And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,

She responded with conviction, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Relay this to the man who sent you to me."

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

The Lord declares, "I will bring disaster on this place and its people, fulfilling all the curses they've read about in the book before the king of Judah."

Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

They've abandoned me, choosing to worship false gods, angering me with their actions. As a result, my fury will rain down on this place, unstoppable and unending.

And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;

To the king of Judah who sought the Lord's counsel, relay this message: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the words you have heard.

Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.

Because your heart was soft and you humbly accepted God's words against this place and its people, showing your sorrow by tearing your clothes and crying, God has heard you too.

Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.

Rest assured, you'll join your ancestors in peaceful rest, spared from witnessing all the disaster I will bring upon this place and its people. This message was then relayed to the king.

Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

With a commanding urgency, the king summoned all the wise elders from Judah and Jerusalem, uniting them in his presence.

And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

The king, filled with reverence, ascended to the Lord's house. Everyone from Judah, Jerusalem, priests, Levites, to the common folk, both young and old, gathered. He passionately read aloud the sacred covenant found in the Lord's house, ensuring every word echoed in their ears.

And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

The king, standing firm, pledged to God. He promised to follow God, obey His rules, and uphold His teachings wholeheartedly. He committed to live by the sacred words written in the holy book.

And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

He inspired everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin to commit wholeheartedly. The people of Jerusalem faithfully followed the sacred agreement with God, the same God their ancestors worshipped.

And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Josiah bravely eradicated all evil from the lands of Israel's children. He inspired everyone in Israel to faithfully serve the Lord, their God. Throughout his life, they never strayed from their devotion to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.