2 Chronicles 31

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 After all this was over, those Israelites who had been present went forth to the cities of Judah and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the sacred poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until all were destroyed. Then the Israelites returned to their various cities, each to his own possession.	1 When al this was complete, al Israel present went out to the towns of Judah, broke the pil ars, cutdown the sacred poles, wrecked the high places and the altars, and did away with them entirely throughoutJudah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then al the Israelites returned to their towns, everyone to hisproperty.
2 Hezekiah reestablished the classes of the priests and the Levites according to their former classification, assigning to each priest and Levite his proper service, whether in regard to holocausts or peace offerings, thanksgiving or praise, or ministering in the gates of the encampment of the LORD.	2 Hezekiah re-established the priestly and levitical orders, each man in his proper order according to hisduties, whether priest or Levite, to bring burnt offerings and communion sacrifices, to serve and to give thanksand praise within the gates of Yahweh's camp.
3 From his own wealth the king allotted a portion for holocausts, those of morning and evening and those on sabbaths, new moons and festivals, as prescribed in the law of the LORD.	3 He also established a king's portion from his possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings,and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, New Moons and festivals, as laid down in the Law of Yahweh.
4 He also commanded the people living in Jerusalem to provide the support of the priests and Levites, that they might devote themselves entirely to the law of the LORD.	4 He furthermore requested the people living in Jerusalem to present the portion for the priests andLevites so that they might devote themselves to the Law of Yahweh.
5 As soon as the order was promulgated, the Israelites brought, in great quantities, the best of their grain, wine, oil and honey, and all the produce of the fields; they gave a generous tithe of everything.	5 As soon as the order had been promulgated, the Israelites provided the first fruits of grain, new wine,olive oil, honey and every other kind of agricultural produce in abundance; they brought in an abundant tithe ofeverything.
6 Israelites and Judahites living in other cities of Judah also brought in tithes of oxen, sheep, and things that had been consecrated to the LORD, their God; these they brought in and set out in heaps.	6 The Israelites and Judaeans living in the towns of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep,and the tithe of sacred gifts consecrated to Yahweh their God, laying them in heaps.
7 It was in the third month that they began to establish these heaps, and they completed them in the seventh month.	7 They began accumulating the heaps in the third month and had finished them by the seventh.
8 When Hezekiah and the princes had come and seen the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.	8 When Hezekiah and the officials came to inspect the heaps they praised Yahweh and his peopleIsrael.
9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps,	9 While Hezekiah was questioning the priests and Levites about the heaps,
10 and the priest Azariah, head of the house of Zadoc, answered him, "Since they began to bring the offerings to the house of the LORD, we have eaten to the full and have had much left over, for the LORD has blessed his people. This great supply is what was left over."	10 Azariah, the chief priest, of the family of Zadok, replied as fol ows, 'Since they began bringing thecontributions to the Temple of Yahweh,' he said, 'we have had enough to eat and quantities left over, for Yahwehhas blessed his people; this mass of stuff is left.'
11 Hezekiah then gave orders that chambers be constructed in the house of the LORD. When this had been done,	11 Hezekiah then ordered them to have storerooms prepared in the Temple of Yahweh and, when theyhad got them ready,
12 the offerings, tithes and consecrated things were deposited there in safekeeping. The overseer of these things was Conaniah the Levite, and his brother Shimei was second in charge.	12 they conscientiously brought in the contributions, tithes and consecrated gifts, Conaniah the Levitewas put in charge of them, with Shimei his brother as his assistant,
13 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath and Benaiah were supervisors subject to Conaniah and his brother Shimei by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah, the prefect of the house of God.	13 and with Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jeremith, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiahas overseers under Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by order of King Hezekiah and of Azariah, the chief of theTemple of God.
14 Kore, the son of Imnah, a Levite and the keeper of the eastern gate, was in charge of the free-will gifts made to God; he distributed the offerings made to the LORD and the most holy of the consecrated things.	14 Kore son of Jimnah the Levite, keeper of the eastern gate, was made responsible for the voluntaryofferings to God and for providing the portion set aside for Yahweh and the most holy gifts.
15 Under him in the priestly cities were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah, who faithfully made the distribution to their brethren, great and small alike, according to their classes.	15 Supporting him loyal y in the priestly towns were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah andShechaniah, who made the distributions to their brothers in their various orders, whether high or low,
16 There was also a register by ancestral houses of males thirty years of age and over, for all priests who were eligible to enter the house of the LORD according to the daily rule to fulfill their service in the order of their classes.	16 irrespective of their official genealogy, to the males of thirty years and upwards -- to each one whoattended the Temple of Yahweh to fulfil his daily obligations -- for the performance of their duties appropriate totheir orders:
17 The priests were inscribed in their family records according to their ancestral houses, and the Levites of twenty years and over according to their various offices and classes.	17 the priests being registered according to family and the Levites of twenty years and upwardsaccording to their duties within their orders.
18 A distribution was also made to all who were inscribed in the family records, for their little ones, wives, sons and daughters--thus for the entire assembly, since they were to sanctify themselves by sharing faithfully in the consecrated things.	18 And the official genealogy included all their household, their wives, their sons and their daughters,throughout the community, since these men were obliged to keep sanctifying themselves anew.
19 The sons of Aaron, the priests who lived on the lands attached to their cities, had in every city men designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed in the family records.	19 The Aaronite priests who lived on the pasture lands belonging to their towns, had men named inevery town to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone included in the officialgenealogy of the Levites.
20 This Hezekiah did in all Judah. He did what was good, upright and faithful before the LORD, his God.	20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He did what Yahweh his God regards as good and right andloyal.
21 Everything that he undertook, for the service of the house of God or for the law and the commandments, was to do the will of his God. He did this wholeheartedly, and he prospered.	21 Everything that he undertook, whether in the service of the Temple of God or in connection with thelaw or the commandments, he did in absolute devotion to his God, and so succeeded.