٢ أخبار 19

١ 1 وَرَجَعَ يَهُوشَافَاطُ مَلِكُ يَهُوذَا إِلَى بَيْتِهِ بِسَلَامٍ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ.

Once Jehoshaphat had arrived safely home in Jerusalem,

٢ 2 وَخَرَجَ لِلِقَائِهِ يَاهُو بْنُ حَنَانِي ٱلرَّائِي وَقَالَ لِلْمَلِكِ يَهُوشَافَاطَ: «أَتُسَاعِدُ ٱلشِّرِّيرَ وَتُحِبُّ مُبْغِضِي ٱلرَّبِّ؟ فَلِذَلِكَ ٱلْغَضَبُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قِبَلِ ٱلرَّبِّ.

Jehu, son of Hanani, the seer went out to face him. He said to King Jehoshaphat, “Why are you helping the wicked? Why do you love those who hate the Lord? The Lord is angry with you because of this.

٣ 3 غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ وُجِدَ فِيكَ أُمُورٌ صَالِحَةٌ لِأَنَّكَ نَزَعْتَ ٱلسَّوَارِيَ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَهَيَّأْتَ قَلْبَكَ لِطَلَبِ ٱللهِ».

Even so you've done some good things such as destroying the Asherah poles throughout the country, and you have made a sincere commitment to follow God.”

٤ 4 وَأَقَامَ يَهُوشَافَاطُ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ وَخَرَجَ أَيْضًا بَيْنَ ٱلشَّعْبِ مِنْ بِئْرِ سَبْعٍ إِلَى جَبَلِ أَفْرَايِمَ وَرَدَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَهِ آبَائِهِمْ.

Jehoshaphat continued living in Jerusalem, and once again he traveled among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, to encourage them to serve the Lord, the God of their fathers.

٥ 5 وَأَقَامَ قُضَاةً فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ فِي كُلِّ مُدُنِ يَهُوذَا ٱلْمُحَصَّنَةِ فِي كُلِّ مَدِينَةٍ فَمَدِينَةٍ.

He appointed judges throughout the country, in all of the fortified towns of Judah.

٦ 6 وَقَالَ لِلْقُضَاةِ: «ٱنْظُرُوا مَا أَنْتُمْ فَاعِلُونَ، لِأَنَّكُمْ لَا تَقْضُونَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ بَلْ لِلرَّبِّ، وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ فِي أَمْرِ ٱلْقَضَاءِ.

He told the judges, “Be careful about what you're doing as judges, because you're not looking for the approval of people, but the approval of the Lord. He is the One with you when you give your verdict.

٧ 7 وَٱلْآنَ لِتَكُنْ هَيْبَةُ ٱلرَّبِّ عَلَيْكُمُ. ٱحْذَرُوا وَٱفْعَلُوا. لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عِنْدَ ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَهِنَا ظُلْمٌ وَلَا مُحَابَاةٌ وَلَا ٱرْتِشَاءٌ».

So then, be sure to have reverence for God, obeying him and doing what he wants, for God does not permit any kind of injustice, favoritism, or bribery.”

٨ 8 وَكَذَا فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ أَقَامَ يَهُوشَافَاطُ مِنَ ٱللَّاوِيِّينَ وَٱلْكَهَنَةِ وَمِنْ رُؤُوسِ آبَاءِ إِسْرَائِيلَ لِقَضَاءِ ٱلرَّبِّ وَٱلدَّعَاوِي. وَرَجَعُوا إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ.

Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and family heads to act as judges regarding the law of Lord and to settle disputes. They were to have their courts in Jerusalem.

٩ 9 وَأَمَرَهُمْ قَائِلًا: «هَكَذَا تَفْعَلُونَ بِتَقْوَى ٱلرَّبِّ بِأَمَانَةٍ وَقَلْبٍ كَامِلٍ.

He gave them these orders, “You must honor God, and act with faithfulness and complete commitment.

١٠ 10 وَفِي كُلِّ دَعْوَى تَأْتِي إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ إِخْوَتِكُمُ ٱلسَّاكِنِينَ فِي مُدُنِهِمْ، بَيْنَ دَمٍ وَدَمٍ، بَيْنَ شَرِيعَةٍ وَوَصِيَّةٍ مِنْ جِهَةِ فَرَائِضَ أَوْ أَحْكَامٍ، حَذِّرُوهُمْ فَلَا يَأْثَمُوا إِلَى ٱلرَّبِّ فَيَكُونَ غَضَبٌ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَلَى إِخْوَتِكُمْ. هَكَذَا ٱفْعَلُوا فَلَا تَأْثَمُوا.

In every case that comes before you from your people living in other towns, whether it involves murder or violations of the law, commandment, statutes, or judgments, you are to warn them not to offend the Lord so that punishment does not come upon you and your people. If you do this you will not be held guilty.

١١ 11 وَهُوَذَا أَمَرْيَا ٱلْكَاهِنُ ٱلرَّأْسُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي كُلِّ أُمُورِ ٱلرَّبِّ، وَزَبَدْيَا بْنُ يَشْمَعِئِيلَ ٱلرَّئِيسُ عَلَى بَيْتِ يَهُوذَا فِي كُلِّ أُمُورِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَٱلْعُرَفَاءُ ٱللَّاوِيُّونَ أَمَامَكُمْ. تَشَدَّدُوا وَٱفْعَلُوا، وَلْيَكُنِ ٱلرَّبُّ مَعَ ٱلصَّالِحِ».

Amariah, the chief priest, will make the final decision for you in everything that relates to the Lord, and Zebadiah, son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, in all that relates to the king. The Levites will serve as officers to assist you. Be firm, and may the Lord be with those who do what is right.”