2 Kings 22

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Josiah was eight years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned for thirty-one years inJerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah, of Bozkath.	1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
2 He did what Yahweh regards as right, and in every respect fol owed the example of his ancestor David,not deviating from it to right or left.	2 He pleased the LORD and conducted himself unswervingly just as his ancestor David had done.
3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent the secretary Shaphan son of Azaliah, son ofMeshullam to the Temple of Yahweh.	3 In his eighteenth year, King Josiah sent the scribe Shaphan, son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD with orders to
4 'Go to Hilkiah the high priest,' he told him, 'and tel him to melt down the silver contributed to theTemple of Yahweh and col ected by the guardians of the threshold from the people.	4 go to the high priest Hilkiah and have him smelt down the precious metals that had been donated to the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers had collected from the people.
5 He is to hand it over to the masters of works attached to the Temple of Yahweh, for them to pay it overto men working on the Temple of Yahweh, to repair the damaged parts of the Temple:	5 They were to be consigned to the master workmen in the temple of the LORD, who should then pay them out to the carpenters, builders, and lumbermen making repairs on the temple,
6 to the carpenters, builders and masons, and for buying timber and dressed stone for the Templerepairs.'	6 and for the purchase of wood and hewn stone for the temple repairs.
7 The latter were not required to render account of the money handed over to them, since they wereconscientious in their work.	7 No reckoning was asked of them regarding the funds consigned to them, because they held positions of trust.
8 The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the Templeof Yahweh.' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.	8 The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan, "I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD." Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.
9 Shaphan the secretary went to the king, reporting furthermore to him as fol ows, 'Your servants havemelted down the silver which was in the Temple and have handed it over to the masters of works attached to theTemple of Yahweh.'	9 Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported, "Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the temple and have consigned them to the master workmen in the temple of the LORD."
10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, 'The priest Hilkiah has given me a book'; andShaphan read it aloud in the king's presence.	10 The scribe Shaphan also informed the king that the priest Hilkiah had given him a book, and then read it aloud to the king.
11 On hearing the words of the Book of the Law he tore his clothes.	11 When the king had heard the contents of the book of the law, he tore his garments
12 Then the king gave the fol owing order to the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son ofMicaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's minister:	12 and issued this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, Achbor, son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and the king's servant Asaiah:
13 'Go and consult Yahweh on behalf of me and the people about the words of the book that has beendiscovered; for Yahweh's furious wrath has been kindled against us because our ancestors disobeyed the wordof Yahweh by not doing what this book says they ought to have done.'	13 "Go, consult the LORD for me, for the people, for all Judah, about the stipulations of this book that has been found, for the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us, because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book, nor fulfill our written obligations."
14 The priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah wife ofShal um son of Tikvah, son of Harhas the keeper of the wardrobe; she lived in Jerusalem in the new town. Theyput the matter to her,	14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah betook themselves to the Second Quarter in Jerusalem, where the prophetess Huldah resided. She was the wife of Shallum, son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. When they had spoken to her,
15 and she replied, 'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this, "To the man who sent you to me say this:	15 she said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Say to the man who sent you to me,
16 Yahweh says this: I am going to bring disaster on this place and the people who live in it -- all thewords of the book read by the king of Judah.	16 Thus says the LORD: I will bring upon this place and upon its inhabitants all the evil that is threatened in the book which the king of Judah has read.
17 Because they have abandoned me and sacrificed to other gods, so as to provoke my anger by theirevery action, my wrath is kindled against this place, and nothing can stop it.	17 Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, provoking me by everything to which they turn their hands, my anger is ablaze against this place and it cannot be extinguished.'
18 As for the king of Judah who sent you to consult Yahweh, say this to him: As regards the words youhave heard . . .	18 "But to the king of Judah who sent you to consult the LORD, give this response: 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: As for the threats you have heard,
19 But since your heart has been touched and you have humbled yourself before Yahweh on hearingwhat I have decreed against this place and the people who live in it, how they wil become an object of horrorand cursing, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I too have heard -- Yahweh says this.	19 because you were heartsick and have humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard my threats that this place and its inhabitants would become a desolation and a curse; because you tore your garments and wept before me; I in turn have listened, says the LORD.
20 So look, when I gather you to your ancestors, you wil be gathered into your grave in peace; you willnot live to see the great disaster that I am going to bring on this place." ' They took this answer to the king.	20 I will therefore gather you to your ancestors; you shall go to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil I will bring upon this place.'" This they reported to the king.