save only, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, when this passover was held unto Yahweh, in Jerusalem.

So Yahweh said: Even Judah, will I remove from my presence, as I have removed Israel, - and will reject this city, which I had chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house as to which I had said, My Name, shall be, there.

Surely, it was, because of the anger of Yahweh, that this came upon Judah, to remove them from his presence, - for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done:

But these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and devoted them, until this day, and dwelt in their stead, - for there was pasture for their flocks, there.

and they smote the remainder that had escaped, of the Amalekites, - and dwelt there - as they have unto this day.

so the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he took them away captive, even the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, - and brought them in unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.

And David dwelt in the citadel, - for this cause, did they call it, The City of David.

And, this, is the number of the heroes who pertained to David, - Jashobeam son of a Hachmonite, chief of the thirty, the same, brandished his spear over three hundred - slain at one time.

and said - Far be it from me, of my God, that I should do this! The blood of these men, shall I drink, with their lives? For, with their lives, have they brought it! So he would not drink it. These things, did the three heroes.

And it was a sadness unto David, that Yahweh had broken in with a breach against Uzza, - and he called that place Perez-uzza, as it is called unto this day.

So they came up in Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and David said, God hath broken forth against mine enemies by my hand, like the breaking forth of waters, - For this cause, called they the name of that place, Baal-perazim.

seeing that I have not dwelt in a house, since the day that I brought up Israel, until this day, - but have been from tent to tent, and without a habitation.

and hast made this seem little in thine eyes, O God, in that thou hast spoken concerning the house of thy servant, for a great while to come? Thus wilt thou provide for me, according to the rank of manhood, and hast exalted me, O Yahweh God!

O Yahweh, for the sake of thy servant, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this great thing, - making known all the great things.

For, thou, O my God, hast unveiled the ear of thy servant, that thou wilt build for him a house, - for this cause, hath thy servant found it in his heart to pray before thee.

Now, therefore, O Yahweh, thou, art God, - therefore hast thou spoken concerning thy servant this goodness.

And it canto to pass, after this, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, - and took Gath and her villages, out of the hand of the Philistines.

And it came to pass, after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon died, - and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

And it came to pass, after this, that there was yet again a battle in Gezer, with the Philistines, - then, Sibbecai the Hushathite smote Sippai of the children of the giants, and they were subdued.

Then said Joab, May Yahweh add unto his people, as many as they are, a hundred times, but are they not, my lord O king, all of them my lord's, as servants? wherefore should my lord seek this? wherefore should it become guilt to Israel?

And it was displeasing in the eyes of God, concerning this thing, - therefore smote he Israel.

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing, - but, now, I beseech thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have shown myself very foolish.

Then said David, This, is the house of Yahweh God, - and, this, is the altar of ascending-sacrifice, for Israel.

Joab son of Zeruiah, began to number, but finished not, when there arose, on this account, indignation against Israel, - neither did the number come up into the account of the chronicles of King David.

So will I establish his kingdom, unto times age-abiding, - if he be strong, to do my commandments and my regulations, as at this day.

And yet, who am, I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer willingly like this? for, from thee, is the whole, and, out of thine own hand, have we given unto thee;

O Yahweh our God, all this abundance which we have prepared, to build thee a house for thy holy Name, out of thine own hand, it is, and, thine, is the whole.

O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, oh guard this age-abidingly, as the devised purpose of the heart of thy people, - and establish thou their heart, unto thyself.

Now, wisdom and knowledge, give thou unto me, that I may go out before this people, and may come in, - for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

And God said unto Solomon, Because this was near thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, or the life of them that hate thee, nor even, many days, hast thou asked, - but hast asked for thyself, wisdom and knowledge, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king,

lo! I, am about to build a house for the Name of Yahweh my God, to hallow unto him - to burn before him sweet incense, and for a continual setting in array, and to offer ascending-sacrifices morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the appointed feasts of Yahweh our God,-age-abiding, is this law for Israel.

And they drew out the staves, and the heads of the staves could be seen out of the ark, in front of the shrine, although they could not be seen on the outside, - and it came to pass that they have remained there - unto this day.

who hast kept, for thy servant David my father, that which thou didst promise him, - in that thou didst promise with thy mouth, and, with thy hand, hast fulfilled, as it is this day.

But, in very deed, will God dwell with man on the earth? Lo! the heavens, even the leaven of heavens, cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built!

that thine eyes may be open toward this house, day and night, toward the place of which thou hast said thou wouldst set thy Name there, - to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant may pray towards this place:

wilt thou therefore hearken unto the supplications of thy servant, and thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place, - yea wilt, thou thyself, hear, out of thine own dwelling-place, out of the heavens, and, when thou hearest, then wilt thou forgive?

If a man shall sin against his neighbour, and there shall be laid upon him an oath, to put him on oath, - and an oath shall come before thine altar in this house,

Or, if thy people Israel be smitten before an enemy, because they have been sinning against thee, - and they turn, and confess thy Name, and pray and make supplication before thee, in this house,

When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain, because they have been sinning against thee, - and they shall pray towards this place, and shall confess thy Name, from their sin, shall return, because thou hast been afflicting them,

whatsoever prayer, whatsoever supplication, which any son of earth may have, or any of thy people Israel, - when any man shall come to know his plague, or his pain, and so he shall spread abroad his hands towards this house -

Moreover also, unto the stranger who is not, of thy people Israel, but he shall come in out of a far country - for the sake of thy great Name, and of thy strong hand, and of thine outstretched arm, - and so they shall come in and pray towards this house,

then wilt, thou thyself, hear out of the heavens, out of the settled place of thine abode, and do according to all for which the stranger shall cry unto thee, - to the end that all the peoples of the earth may know thy Name, so as to revere thee like thy people Israel, and know that, thy Name, hath been given unto this house, which I have built?

When thy people shall go forth to war against their enemies, whithersoever thou mayest send them, - and shall pray unto thee in the direction of this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy Name,

Now, O my God, let - I beseech thee - thine eyes be open, and thine ears attent, - unto the prayer of this place.

Then appeared Yahweh unto Solomon by night, - and said to him, I have heard thy prayer, and have made choice of this place for myself, as a house of sacrifice: -

Now, mine eyes, shall be open, and, mine ears, attent, - to the prayer of this place.

Now, therefore, have I chosen and hallowed this house, that my Name may be there, unto times age-abiding, - and mine eyes and my heart shall he there, all the days.

then will I root you out from off the soil, which I have given to you, and, this house, which I have hallowed for my Name, will I cast off from before my face, - and will appoint it for a by-word and a mockery, among all the peoples;

and, this house which hath been renowned, all that pass by near it, shall be astonished, - and say, Wherefore hath Yahweh done, thus and thus, to this land, and to this house?

And men shall say, Because they forsook Yahweh the God of their fathers, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold of other gods, and bowed down to them, and served them, for this cause, hath he brought upon them, all this calamity.

of their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel had not utterly destroyed, Solomon enrolled them as tributary - unto this day.

and there were six steps to the throne, and a footstool in gold, unto the throne, made fast, and supports, on this side and on that, unto the seat, - and, two lions, standing by the supports;

and, twelve lions, standing there upon the six steps, on this side and on that, - there was never made the like, for any kingdom.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had been standing before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, - How do, ye, counsel to return answer unto this people?

And they spake unto him saying, If thou wilt be kind to this people, and please them, and speak unto them kind words, then will they be thy servants, all the days.

And he said unto them, What do, ye, counsel that we should return as answer, unto this people, - who have spoken unto me saying, Lighten thou somewhat the yoke, which thy father put upon us?

Thus Israel rebelled against the house of David - unto this day.

Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye shall not go up neither shall ye fight against your brethren, return every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the words of Yahweh, and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

Then Asa cried out unto Yahweh his God, and said, O Yahweh, it is, nothing with thee, to help whether with many or with such as have no strength. Help us, O Yahweh our God, for, on thee, do we lean, and, in thy name, have we come against this multitude, - O Yahweh! our God, thou art, let not, weak man, have power against thee.

And, at that time, came Hanani the seer, unto Asa the king of Judah, - and said unto him, Because thou hast leaned upon the king of Syria, and hast not leaned upon Yahweh thy God, for this cause, hath the force of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.

For, as touching Yahweh, seeing that , his eyes, are ever running to and fro throughout all the earth, to shew himself strong with them who are perfect toward himself, thou hast made thyself foolish over this, - for, from henceforth, there shall be with thee - wars.

Then was Asa angry with the seer, and put him in the house of the stocks, for he was in a rage with him, over this, - and Asa oppressed some of the people, at that time.

Then said Yahweh, Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall in Ramoth-gilead? And one spake, saying after this manner, and another, saying after that manner.

and ye shall say, Thus, saith the king, Put ye this one into the prison, - and feed him with the bread of oppression, and with the water of oppression, until I return in peace.

And there came out to meet him, Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, who said unto King Jehoshaphat, Unto the lawless, was it right to give help? and, on them who hate Yahweh, to bestow thy love? For this cause, therefore, is there wrath against thee, from before Yahweh;

And it came to pass, after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, and, with them, some of the Meunim, came against Jehoshaphat, to battle.

Art not, thou, our God, who didst dispossess the inhabitants of this land, from before thy people Israel, - and didst give it unto the seed of Abraham who loved thee, unto times age-abiding?

If there come upon us calamity, the sword of judgment or pestilence or famine, we will stand before this house and before thee, for, thy Name, is in this house, - that we may make outcry unto thee out of our distress, that thou mayest hear and save.

O our God, wilt thou not bring judgment upon them, seeing that there is, in us, no strength, before this great multitude, that is coming against us, - we, therefore, know not what we shall do, but, unto thee, are our eyes.

and he said, Give ye heed, all Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! Thus, saith Yahweh unto you. As for you, do not fear nor be dismayed, by reason of this great multitude, for, not yours, is the battle, but, God's.

It is not, for you, to fight in this matter, - take your station, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem, do not fear, nor be dismayed, to-morrow, go ye out to meet them, and, Yahweh, will be with you.

And, on the fourth day, they assembled themselves in the vale of Beracah, for there they blessed Yahweh, - on this account, was the name of that place called The Vale of Beracah - unto this day.

Yet, after this, did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, - he, was lawless in his doings;

So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah - unto this day. Then, must Libnah needs revolt at the same time, from under his hand, - because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.

And, after all this, Yahweh plagued him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

This, is the thing that ye shall do, - A third of you entering on the sabbath, both of the priests and of the Levites, as doorkeepers of the porch;

And it came to pass, after this, that it was near the heart of Joash to renew the house of Yahweh.

And they forsook the house of Yahweh, God of their fathers, and served the Sacred Stems, and the images, - so there was wrath against Judah and Jerusalem, for this their guilt.

And Amaziah said unto the man of God, What then shall be done as to the hundred talents, which I have given to the company of Israel? Then said the man of God, Yahweh is able to give thee much more than this.

And it came to pass, as he spake unto him, that he said to him, To be, counselor to the king, have we appointed thee? forbear thou, wherefore should they smite thee? So the prophet forbare, and said - I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

He, also made war against the king of the sons of Ammon, and prevailed against them, and the sons of Ammon gave him, during that year, a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and, of barley, ten thousand, - this, did the sons of Ammon render him, both in the second year, and the third.

And lo! our fathers have fallen by the sword, and, our sons and our daughters and our wives, are in captivity for this.

For, by your returning unto Yahweh, your brethren and your children, shall find compassion before their captors, so as to return unto this land. For, gracious and compassionate, is Yahweh your God, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye will return unto him.

Thus was there great rejoicing, in Jerusalem, - for, since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel, there had not been the like of this, in Jerusalem.

Now, when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went forth unto the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars - and cut down the Sacred Stems - and threw down the high places and the altars, out of all Judah and Benjamin - and throughout Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end, - then all the sons of Israel returned every man to his own possession, unto their own cities.

And Azariah, the chief priest of the house of Zadok, spake unto him, - and said - From the time of beginning to bring in, the heave-offering, into the house of Yahweh - to eat and to be full, there hath still been left, even to this abundance. For, Yahweh, hath blessed his people, and, that which is left, is this great plenty.

After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants towards Jerusalem, himself, being near Lachish, and all his imperial might with him, - unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that was in Jerusalem, saying:

And Hezekiah the king and Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, prayed concerning this,-and made outcry unto the heavens,

and he set a resemblance-image which he had made, - in the house of God, as to which God had said unto David, and unto Solomon his son, In this house and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my Name, unto times age-abiding.

And, after this, he built an outer wall to the city of David on the west of the Gihon in the ravine, even to the entering in through the fish-gate, and went round to Ophel, and carried it up very high, - and put captains of valour in all the fortified cities, throughout Judah.

Go, enquire of Yahweh for me, and for the remnant in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which hath been found, - for great is the wrath of Yahweh, which hath been poured out upon us, because our fathers, kept not, the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.

Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me bringing in calamity upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof,-even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:

Because they have forsaken me, and burned incense unto other gods, so as to provoke me to anger, with all the works of their hands, therefore hath my wrath been poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

Because tender was thy heart, and thou didst humble thyself before God when thou heardest his words against this place and against the inhabitants thereof, and didst humble thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes and weep before me, therefore, I also, have heard, is the declaration of Yahweh.

Behold me! gathering thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered unto thy sepulchres in peace, and thine eyes shall not look upon all the calamity which, I, am bringing in upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof. And they returned, unto the king, the message.

And the king stood in his place, and solemnised the covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and with all his soul, - to perform the words of the covenant that are written in this book.

In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah, was kept this passover.

After all this - when Josiah had prepared the house, Neco king of Egypt came up,-to fight against Carchemish, by Euphrates, and Josiah went forth against him.

But he sent unto him messengers, saying - What have I to do with thee, O king of Judah? not against thee, have I come this day, but against the house wherewith I have war, and, God, hath given word to speed me, - cease thou from provoking God who is with me, lest he destroy thee.

And Jeremiah chanted a dirge over Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women in their dirges have spoken concerning Josiah, until this day, and they appointed them by statute for Israel, - and, there they are, written among the dirges.