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

King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned in peace to his house in Jerusalem.

2 A nd 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.

Jehu the son of Hanani the man who tells what will happen in the future went out to meet King Jehoshaphat, and said to him, “Should you help the sinful? Should you love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the Lord is angry with you.

3 N evertheless, 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.

But there is some good in you. For you have destroyed from the land the false goddess Asherah. And you have set your heart to follow God.” The Changes Made by Jehoshaphat

4 A nd 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.

So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim. And he 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,

He chose judges in the land in all the strong cities of Judah, city by city.

6 a nd 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.

And he said to the judges, “Think about what you do. For you do not judge for man, but for the Lord. He is with you when you judge between right and wrong.

7 T herefore, 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.

So now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be very careful what you do. For the Lord our God will have nothing to do with what is not right and good, or with what is not fair, or with taking pay for doing what is wrong.”

8 M oreover, 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.

In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat chose some of the Levites and religious leaders, and heads of families of Israel. He chose them to judge for the Lord, and to judge the troubles among the people of Jerusalem.

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

Then he told them what they must do. He said, “Do this in the fear of the Lord. Be faithful, and do your duty with your whole heart.

10 I n 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.

Whenever trouble comes to you between your brothers who live in the cities, between blood and blood, between one law and another, tell them not to sin before the Lord, so God’s anger may not come upon you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

11 B ehold, 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.

See, Amariah the head religious leader will be over you in everything that has to do with the Lord. And Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the family of Judah, will be over you in everything that has to do with the king. The Levites will work for you as leaders. Be strong in what you do, and the Lord will be with the good.”