Jehoshaphat's Reforms
1 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem.
1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
1 Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace.
1 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem,
1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house (palace) in Jerusalem.
2 (A)Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “(B)Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and (a)(C)so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord?
2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
2 Then Jehu(A) son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him(a) and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?(B) Because of this, the Lord’s wrath is on you.(C)
2 where Hanani's son Jehu, the seer, went out to meet him. He asked King Jehoshaphat, "Should you be helping those who are wicked, yes or no? Should you love those who hate the LORD? Wrath is headed your way directly from the LORD because of this.
2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the Lord and in doing so bring wrath from the Lord on yourself?
3 But (b)(D)there is some good in you, for (E)you have removed the (c)Asheroth from the land and you (F)have set your heart to seek God.”
3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have decided to seek God.”(D)
3 Nevertheless, a few good things have been found in you, in that you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have disciplined yourself to seek God."
3 But there are some good things found in you, for you have removed the Asherim (idols) from the land and you have set your heart to seek God [with all your soul’s desire].”
Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges
4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and (G)brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.
4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.(E)
4 Jehoshaphat continued to live in Jerusalem, but he travelled again throughout the people from Beer-sheba to Mount Ephraim, bringing them back to the LORD God of their ancestors
4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.
5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
5 and appointing judges throughout the land in all of the walled cities of Judah, city by city. He issued this reminder to the judges:
5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
6 He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for (I)you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you (d)when you render judgment.
6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.(G)
6 "Pay careful attention to your duties, because you are judging not only for the sake of human beings but also for the LORD and he is present with you as you make your rulings.
6 and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord who is with you in the matter of judgment.
7 Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; (e)be very careful what you do, for (f)the Lord our God will (J)have no part in unrighteousness (K)or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
7 And now, may the terror of the Lord be on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with the Lord our God.”(H)
7 So let the fear of the LORD rest upon you, be on your guard, and act carefully, because with the LORD our God there is neither injustice, nor partiality, nor bribery."
7 So now let the fear (reverent awe) of the Lord be on you [to keep you from making unjust decisions]; be careful in what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality, or acceptance of a bribe.”
8 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some (L)of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge (g)disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
8 Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the heads of the Israelite families for deciding the Lord’s will and for settling disputes of the residents of(b) Jerusalem.
8 In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat also appointed certain descendants of Levi, priests, and family leaders of Israel to render verdicts for the LORD and to decide difficult cases. Their offices were in Jerusalem.
8 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Israel to render the judgment of the Lord and to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
9 Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly.
9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
9 He commanded them, saying, “In the fear of the Lord, with integrity, and with a whole heart, you are to do the following:
9 He issued this reminder to them:
9 Then the king commanded them, “Do this in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly.
10 (M)Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord, and (N)wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty.
10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.
10 for every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments(I)—you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath will not come on you and your brothers.(J) Do this, and you will not incur guilt.
10 "You are to carry out your duties in the fear of the LORD, serving him faithfully with your whole heart. No matter what case comes before you from your fellow citizens who live in their own cities, whether it's a dispute between blood relatives or a dispute regarding the Law and the commands, statutes, or verdicts, you are to warn the parties so that they do not become guilty in the LORD's presence and so that anger does not come upon you and your fellow citizens.
10 Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers (relatives) who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, or between statutes and judgments, you are to warn [and instruct] them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord; otherwise [God’s] wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will not be guilty.
11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in (h)(O)all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in (i)all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. (j)(P)Act resolutely, and the Lord be with the upright.”
11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
11 “Note that Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters related to the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters related to the king, and the Levites are officers in your presence. Be strong; may the Lord be with those who do what is good.”(K)
11 Take notice, please, that Amariah the Chief Priest is presiding over all cases that pertain to the LORD, Ishmael's son Zebadiah is presiding as ruler of the household of Judah with respect to all cases that pertain to the national government, and the descendants of Levi will preside over your other civil cases. Serve courageously, and the LORD will be with the upright."
11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters; and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright.”