Παραλειπομένων Βʹ 19
1 καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Ιωσαφατ βασιλεὺς Ιουδα εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἐν εἰρήνῃ εἰς Ιερουσαλημ
Once Jehoshaphat had arrived safely home in Jerusalem,
2 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῦ Ιου ὁ τοῦ Ανανι ὁ προφήτης καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ βασιλεῦ Ιωσαφατ εἰ ἁμαρτωλῷ σὺ βοηθεῖς ἢ μισουμένῳ ὑπὸ κυρίου φιλιάζεις διὰ τοῦτο ἐγένετο ἐπὶ σὲ ὀργὴ παρὰ κυρίου
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.
3 ἀλλ’ ἢ λόγοι ἀγαθοὶ ηὑρέθησαν ἐν σοί ὅτι ἐξῆρας τὰ ἄλση ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς Ιουδα καὶ κατηύθυνας τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐκζητῆσαι τὸν κύριον
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.”
4 καὶ κατῴκησεν Ιωσαφατ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ καὶ πάλιν ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸν λαὸν ἀπὸ Βηρσαβεε ἕως ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ κύριον θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν
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.
5 καὶ κατέστησεν κριτὰς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν Ιουδα ταῖς ὀχυραῖς ἐν πόλει καὶ πόλει
He appointed judges throughout the country, in all of the fortified towns of Judah.
6 καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς κριταῖς ἴδετε τί ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε ὅτι οὐκ ἀνθρώπῳ ὑμεῖς κρίνετε ἀλλ’ ἢ τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ μεθ’ ὑμῶν λόγοι τῆς κρίσεως
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.
7 καὶ νῦν γενέσθω φόβος κυρίου ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς καὶ φυλάσσετε καὶ ποιήσετε ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν μετὰ κυρίου θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἀδικία οὐδὲ θαυμάσαι πρόσωπον οὐδὲ λαβεῖν δῶρα
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.”
8 καὶ γὰρ ἐν Ιερουσαλημ κατέστησεν Ιωσαφατ τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν Λευιτῶν καὶ τῶν πατριαρχῶν Ισραηλ εἰς κρίσιν κυρίου καὶ κρίνειν τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν Ιερουσαλημ
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.
9 καὶ ἐνετείλατο πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων οὕτως ποιήσετε ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἐν πλήρει καρδίᾳ
He gave them these orders, “You must honor God, and act with faithfulness and complete commitment.
10 πᾶς ἀνὴρ κρίσιν τὴν ἐλθοῦσαν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν ἀνὰ μέσον αἵματος αἷμα καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον προστάγματος καὶ ἐντολῆς καὶ δικαιώματα καὶ κρίματα καὶ διαστελεῖσθε αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσονται τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς ὀργὴ καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν οὕτως ποιήσετε καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσεσθε
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.
11 καὶ ἰδοὺ Αμαριας ὁ ἱερεὺς ἡγούμενος ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς εἰς πᾶν λόγον κυρίου καὶ Ζαβδιας υἱὸς Ισμαηλ ὁ ἡγούμενος εἰς οἶκον Ιουδα πρὸς πᾶν λόγον βασιλέως καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται πρὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν ἰσχύσατε καὶ ποιήσατε καὶ ἔσται κύριος μετὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ
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.”
