1 J ehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem.

¶ And Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

2 J ehu son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him and said to Jehoshaphat, Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord.

And Jehu, the son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should thou help the ungodly and love those that hate the LORD? Therefore, the wrath of the presence of the LORD shall be upon thee.

3 B ut there are good things found in you, for you have destroyed the Asherim out of the land and have set your heart to seek God.

Nevertheless, good things have been found in thee, in that thou hast burned down the groves of the land and hast prepared thy heart to seek God.

4 J ehoshaphat dwelt at 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.

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.

5 H e appointed judges throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

¶ And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

6 A nd said to the judges, Be careful what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord, and He is with you in the matter of judgment.

and said to the judges, Take heed what ye do, for ye do not judge for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the word of judgment.

7 S o now let the reverence and fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking of bribes.

Therefore, 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 bribes.

8 A lso in Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat set certain Levites, priests, and heads of families of Israel to give judgment for the Lord and decide controversies. When they returned to Jerusalem,

Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat placed some of the Levites and of the priests and of the heads of the fathers of Israel for the judgment of the LORD and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem.

9 T he king charged them, Do this in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, with integrity and a blameless heart.

And he charged them, saying, Ye shall proceed thus in the fear of the LORD, in truth and with a perfect heart.

10 W henever any controversy shall come to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, you shall warn and instruct them that they may not be guilty before the Lord; otherwise wrath will come upon you and your brethren. Do this and you will not be guilty.

In whatever case that shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes or rights, ye shall warn them lest they become guilty against the LORD so that wrath will not come upon you and upon your brethren. Doing thus, ye shall not be guilty.

11 A nd behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters; also the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the good!

Behold, Amariah, the high priest, who shall be over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, prince of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters; and the Levites who shall be teachers before you. Take courage and do, for the LORD shall be with the good.