He commanded Judah to worship the Lord, the God of their people. He commanded them to obey the Lord’ s laws and commands.

吩咐犹大人寻求耶和华他们列祖的神，遵行他的律法、诫命；

吩咐犹大人寻求耶和华—他们列祖的上帝，遵行他的律法和诫命，

吩咐犹大人寻求耶和华—他们列祖的神，遵行他的律法和诫命，

命令犹大人寻求他们祖先的上帝耶和华，遵行祂的律法和诫命。

吩咐犹大人寻求耶和华他们列祖的神，遵行他的律法和诫命。

吩咐猶大人尋求耶和華－他們列祖的神，遵行他的律法、誡命；

吩咐猶大人尋求耶和華－他們列祖的上帝，遵行他的律法和誡命，

吩咐猶大人尋求耶和華－他們列祖的神，遵行他的律法和誡命，

命令猶大人尋求他們祖先的上帝耶和華，遵行祂的律法和誡命。

吩咐猶大人尋求耶和華他們列祖的神，遵行他的律法和誡命。

吩咐猶大人要尋求永恆主他們列祖的上帝，遵行他的律法誡命。

命猶大人尋求其列祖之上帝耶和華、行其法律誡命、

命猶大族、宗事列祖之上帝耶和華、遵其律例、禁令。

命猶大人尋求主其列祖之天主、遵行主之律法誡命、

He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands.

and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.

He commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.

He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.

and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to comply with the Law and the commandment.

He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.

and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

He told the people of Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands.

and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

All the men joined the nobles of their people. They made a firm agreement. They made a promise and said they would be cursed if they didn’t keep it. They promised to follow the Law of God. It had been given through Moses, the servant of God. They promised to obey carefully all the commands, rules and laws of the Lord our Lord.Here is what the priests, Levites and people said.“ We promise not to let our daughters marry men from the nations around us. And we promise not to let their daughters marry our sons.“ The people around us will bring goods and grain to sell on the Sabbath day. But we won’t buy anything from them on the Sabbath day. In fact, we won’t buy anything from them on any holy day. Every seventh year we won’t farm the land. And we’ll forgive people what they owe us.“ We will be accountable for carrying out the commands for serving in the house of our God. Each of us will give an eighth of an ounce of silver every year.It will pay for the holy bread that is placed on the table in the temple. It will pay for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings. It will pay for the offerings on the Sabbath days. It will pay for the offerings at the New Moon feasts and at the appointed feasts. It will pay for the holy offerings. It will be used for sin offerings to pay for the sins of Israel. It will also pay for everything else that needs to be done at the house of our God.“ We are the priests, Levites and people. Each of our families should bring a gift of wood to the house of our God. We have cast lots to decide when they will do that. They will bring it at certain appointed times every year. The wood will be burned on the altar of the Lord our God. That’s what the Law requires.“ We will also be accountable for bringing the first share of our crops each year. And we’ll bring the first share of every fruit tree. We’ll bring them to the Lord’ s house.“ Each of us will bring our oldest son to the priests who serve there. We’ll also bring the male animals that were born first to their mothers among our cattle, herds and flocks. We’ll bring them to the house of our God. That’s what the Law requires.“ We will also bring the first part of the meal we grind. We’ll bring the first of our grain offerings. We’ll bring the first share of fruit from all our trees. And we’ll bring the first share of our olive oil and fresh wine. We’ll give all those things to the priests. They’ll put them in the storerooms of the house of our God. And we’ll give a tenth of our crops to the Levites. They collect the tenth shares. They do it in all the towns where we work.A priest from Aaron’s family line must go with the Levites when they receive the tenth shares. And the Levites must bring a tenth of those shares up to the house of our God. They must put it in the rooms where the treasures are stored.The people of Israel, including the Levites, must bring their gifts. They must bring grain, olive oil and fresh wine. They must put them in the storerooms where the objects for the temple are kept. That’s also where the objects are kept for the priests serving at the temple, the musicians and the men who guard the gates.“ We won’t forget to take care of the house of our God.”

Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. The offering began. Singing to the Lord also began. The singing was accompanied by the trumpets and by the instruments of David. He had been king of Israel.

I gave orders to make the rooms pure and“ clean” again. Then I put the supplies from God’s house back into them. That included the grain offerings and the incense.

God helped the people of Judah. He helped them agree with one another. So they did what the king and his officials had ordered. They did what the Lord told them to do.

I told Eli I would punish his family forever. He knew his sons were sinning. He knew they were saying bad things about me. In spite of that, he did not stop them.

Some people from every tribe in Israel followed the Levites to Jerusalem. With all their hearts they wanted to worship the Lord. He is the God of Israel. They came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to him. He was the God of their people of long ago.

Then he made the Lord’ s altar look like new again. He sacrificed friendship offerings and thank offerings on it. He told the people of Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and in Benjamin commit themselves to the covenant. The people of Jerusalem did it in keeping with the covenant of the God of Israel.Josiah removed all the statues of false gods from the whole territory that belonged to the Israelites. The Lord hated those statues. Josiah had everyone in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they didn’t fail to follow the Lord, the God of their people.

The Lord speaks to the people of Israel. He says,“ Look to me and live.

Then an announcement was sent all through Judah and Jerusalem. All the people who had returned were told to gather together in Jerusalem.They were supposed to come there before three days had passed. If they didn’t, they would lose all their property. They would also be removed from the community of those who had returned. That’s what the officials and elders had decided.Before the three days were over, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered together in Jerusalem. It was the 20th day of the ninth month. They were sitting in the open area in front of the house of God. They were very upset by what they knew would happen. And they were upset because it was raining.Then Ezra the priest stood up. He said,“ You haven’t been faithful to the Lord. You have married women from other lands. So you have added to Israel’s guilt.Now honor the Lord, the God of your people. Then do what he wants you to do. Separate yourselves from the nations around you. Send away your wives from other lands.”The whole community answered with a loud voice. They said,“ You are right! We must do as you say.

I will be careful to lead a life that is without blame. When will you come and help me? In my own home I will lead a life that is without blame.I won’t look at anything that is evil and call it good. I hate the acts of people who aren’t faithful to you. I won’t have anything to do with those things.I will stay away from those whose hearts are twisted. I won’t have anything to do with what is evil.I will get rid of anyone who tells lies about their neighbor in secret. I won’t put up with anyone whose eyes and heart are proud.I will look with favor on the faithful people in the land. They will live with me. Those whose lives are without blame will serve me.No one who lies and cheats will live in my house. No one who tells lies will serve me.Every morning I will get rid of all the sinful people in the land. I will remove from the city of the Lord everyone who does what is evil.

But suppose you don’t want to serve him. Then choose for yourselves right now whom you will serve. You can choose the gods your people served east of the Euphrates River. Or you can serve the gods of the Amorites. After all, you are living in their land. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats with them. They sacrificed the animals as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the temple and for Judah. The king commanded the priests to offer them on the Lord’ s altar. The priests were from the family line of Aaron.

The king and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord. They used the words of David and Asaph the prophet. They sang praises with joy. They bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

Turn to the Lord before it’s too late. Call out to him while he’s still ready to help you.Let those who are evil stop doing evil things. And let them quit thinking evil thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord. The Lord will show them his tender love. Let them turn to our God. He is always ready to forgive.

I have chosen him. He must direct his children to live in the way that pleases me. And he must direct the members of his family after him to do the same. So he must guide all of them in doing what is right and fair. Then I, the Lord, will do for Abraham what I have promised him.”

who wants to worship God with all their heart. God is the Lord, the God of their people. May God forgive them even if they aren’t‘ clean’ in keeping with the rules of the temple.”

I trust in you with all my heart. Don’t let me wander away from your commands.

Evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath day started. So I ordered the gates to be shut. They had to remain closed until the Sabbath day was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates. I told them not to let anything be brought in on the Sabbath day.Once or twice some traders and sellers spent the night outside Jerusalem. They were hoping to sell all kinds of goods.But I gave them a warning. I said,“ Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do this again, I’ll arrest you.” So from that time on they didn’t come on the Sabbath day anymore.I commanded the Levites to make themselves pure. Then I told them to go and guard the gates. I wanted the Sabbath day to be kept holy. You are my God. Remember me because of the good things I’ve done. Be kind to me according to your great love.