Ahaz King of Judah(A)

28 Ahaz(B) was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols(C) for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(D) and sacrificed his children(E) in the fire, engaging in the detestable(F) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram.(G) The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus.

He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him. In one day Pekah(H) son of Remaliah killed a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers in Judah(I)—because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the officer in charge of the palace, and Elkanah, second to the king. The men of Israel took captive from their fellow Israelites who were from Judah(J) two hundred thousand wives, sons and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.(K)

But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry(L) with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven.(M) 10 And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves.(N) But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? 11 Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you.(O)

12 Then some of the leaders in Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those who were arriving from the war. 13 “You must not bring those prisoners here,” they said, “or we will be guilty before the Lord. Do you intend to add to our sin and guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger rests on Israel.”

14 So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and plunder in the presence of the officials and all the assembly. 15 The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink,(P) and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, the City of Palms,(Q) and returned to Samaria.(R)

16 At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings[a] of Assyria(S) for help. 17 The Edomites(T) had again come and attacked Judah and carried away prisoners,(U) 18 while the Philistines(V) had raided towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth Shemesh, Aijalon(W) and Gederoth,(X) as well as Soko,(Y) Timnah(Z) and Gimzo, with their surrounding villages. 19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel,[b] for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful(AA) to the Lord. 20 Tiglath-Pileser[c](AB) king of Assyria(AC) came to him, but he gave him trouble(AD) instead of help.(AE) 21 Ahaz(AF) took some of the things from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace and from the officials and presented them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help him.(AG)

22 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful(AH) to the Lord. 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods(AI) of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.”(AJ) But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.(AK)

24 Ahaz gathered together the furnishings(AL) from the temple of God(AM) and cut them in pieces. He shut the doors(AN) of the Lord’s temple and set up altars(AO) at every street corner in Jerusalem. 25 In every town in Judah he built high places to burn sacrifices to other gods and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

26 The other events of his reign and all his ways, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Ahaz rested(AP) with his ancestors and was buried(AQ) in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

Hezekiah Purifies the Temple(AR)

29 Hezekiah(AS) was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David(AT) had done.

In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired(AU) them. He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate(AV) yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our parents(AW) were unfaithful;(AX) they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense(AY) or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror(AZ) and scorn,(BA) as you can see with your own eyes. This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity.(BB) 10 Now I intend to make a covenant(BC) with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger(BD) will turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him,(BE) to minister(BF) before him and to burn incense.”

12 Then these Levites(BG) set to work:

from the Kohathites,

Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah;

from the Merarites,

Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel;

from the Gershonites,

Joah son of Zimmah and Eden(BH) son of Joah;

13 from the descendants of Elizaphan,(BI)

Shimri and Jeiel;

from the descendants of Asaph,(BJ)

Zechariah and Mattaniah;

14 from the descendants of Heman,

Jehiel and Shimei;

from the descendants of Jeduthun,

Shemaiah and Uzziel.

15 When they had assembled their fellow Levites and consecrated themselves, they went in to purify(BK) the temple of the Lord, as the king had ordered, following the word of the Lord. 16 The priests went into the sanctuary of the Lord to purify it. They brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’s temple everything unclean that they found in the temple of the Lord. The Levites took it and carried it out to the Kidron Valley.(BL) 17 They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the Lord. For eight more days they consecrated the temple of the Lord itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month.

18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: “We have purified the entire temple of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles. 19 We have prepared and consecrated all the articles(BM) that King Ahaz removed in his unfaithfulness while he was king. They are now in front of the Lord’s altar.”

20 Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together and went up to the temple of the Lord. 21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats(BN) as a sin offering[d](BO) for the kingdom, for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer these on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it against the altar; next they slaughtered the rams and splashed their blood against the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and splashed their blood(BP) against the altar. 23 The goats(BQ) for the sin offering were brought before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands(BR) on them. 24 The priests then slaughtered the goats and presented their blood on the altar for a sin offering to atone(BS) for all Israel, because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.(BT)

25 He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David(BU) and Gad(BV) the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through his prophets. 26 So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments,(BW) and the priests with their trumpets.(BX)

27 Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments(BY) of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering(BZ) was completed.

29 When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped.(CA) 30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices(CB) and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing(CC) brought burnt offerings.

32 The number of burnt offerings(CD) the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams and two hundred male lambs—all of them for burnt offerings to the Lord. 33 The animals consecrated as sacrifices amounted to six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep and goats. 34 The priests, however, were too few to skin all the burnt offerings;(CE) so their relatives the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated,(CF) for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been. 35 There were burnt offerings in abundance, together with the fat(CG) of the fellowship offerings(CH) and the drink offerings(CI) that accompanied the burnt offerings.

So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. 36 Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.(CJ)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 28:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also 2 Kings 16:7) king
  2. 2 Chronicles 28:19 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
  3. 2 Chronicles 28:20 Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser, a variant of Tiglath-Pileser
  4. 2 Chronicles 29:21 Or purification offering; also in verses 23 and 24

28 亞 哈 斯 登 基 的 時 候 年 二 十 歲 , 在 耶 路 撒 冷 作 王 十 六 年 ; 不 像 他 祖 大 衛 行 耶 和 華 眼 中 看 為 正 的 事 ,

卻 行 以 色 列 諸 王 的 道 , 又 鑄 造 巴 力 的 像 ,

並 且 在 欣 嫩 子 谷 燒 香 , 用 火 焚 燒 他 的 兒 女 , 行 耶 和 華 在 以 色 列 人 面 前 所 驅 逐 的 外 邦 人 那 可 憎 的 事 ;

並 在 邱 壇 上 、 山 岡 上 、 各 青 翠 樹 下 獻 祭 燒 香 。

所 以 , 耶 和 華 ─ 他 的 神 將 他 交 在 亞 蘭 王 手 裡 。 亞 蘭 王 打 敗 他 , 擄 了 他 許 多 的 民 , 帶 到 大 馬 色 去 。 神 又 將 他 交 在 以 色 列 王 手 裡 , 以 色 列 王 向 他 大 行 殺 戮 。

利 瑪 利 的 兒 子 比 加 一 日 殺 了 猶 大 人 十 二 萬 , 都 是 勇 士 , 因 為 他 們 離 棄 了 耶 和 華 ─ 他 們 列 祖 的 神 。

有 一 個 以 法 蓮 中 的 勇 士 , 名 叫 細 基 利 , 殺 了 王 的 兒 子 瑪 西 雅 和 管 理 王 宮 的 押 斯 利 甘 , 並 宰 相 以 利 加 拿 。

以 色 列 人 擄 了 他 們 的 弟 兄 , 連 婦 人 帶 兒 女 共 有 二 十 萬 , 又 掠 了 許 多 的 財 物 , 帶 到 撒 瑪 利 亞 去 了 。

但 那 裡 有 耶 和 華 的 一 個 先 知 , 名 叫 俄 德 , 出 來 迎 接 往 撒 瑪 利 亞 去 的 軍 兵 , 對 他 們 說 : 因 為 耶 和 華 ─ 你 們 列 祖 的 神 惱 怒 猶 大 人 , 所 以 將 他 們 交 在 你 們 手 裡 , 你 們 竟 怒 氣 沖 天 , 大 行 殺 戮 。

10 如 今 你 們 又 有 意 強 逼 猶 大 人 和 耶 路 撒 冷 人 作 你 們 的 奴 婢 , 你 們 豈 不 也 有 得 罪 耶 和 華 ─ 你 們 神 的 事 麼 ?

11 現 在 你 們 當 聽 我 說 , 要 將 擄 來 的 弟 兄 釋 放 回 去 , 因 為 耶 和 華 向 你 們 已 經 大 發 烈 怒 。

12 於 是 , 以 法 蓮 人 的 幾 個 族 長 ─ 就 是 約 哈 難 的 兒 子 亞 撒 利 雅 、 米 實 利 末 的 兒 子 比 利 家 、 沙 龍 的 兒 子 耶 希 西 家 、 哈 得 萊 的 兒 子 亞 瑪 撒 ─ 起 來 攔 擋 出 兵 回 來 的 人 ,

13 對 他 們 說 : 你 們 不 可 帶 進 這 被 擄 的 人 來 ! 你 們 想 要 使 我 們 得 罪 耶 和 華 , 加 增 我 們 的 罪 惡 過 犯 ? 因 為 我 們 的 罪 過 甚 大 , 已 經 有 烈 怒 臨 到 以 色 列 人 了 。

14 於 是 帶 兵 器 的 人 將 擄 來 的 人 口 和 掠 來 的 財 物 都 留 在 眾 首 領 和 會 眾 的 面 前 。

15 以 上 提 名 的 那 些 人 就 站 起 , 使 被 擄 的 人 前 來 ; 其 中 有 赤 身 的 , 就 從 所 掠 的 財 物 中 拿 出 衣 服 和 鞋 來 , 給 他 們 穿 , 又 給 他 們 吃 喝 , 用 膏 抹 他 們 ; 其 中 有 軟 弱 的 , 就 使 他 們 騎 驢 , 送 到 棕 樹 城 耶 利 哥 他 們 弟 兄 那 裡 ; 隨 後 就 回 撒 瑪 利 亞 去 了 。

16 那 時 , 亞 哈 斯 王 差 遣 人 去 見 亞 述 諸 王 , 求 他 們 幫 助 ;

17 因 為 以 東 人 又 來 攻 擊 猶 大 , 擄 掠 子 民 。

18 非 利 士 人 也 來 侵 佔 高 原 和 猶 大 南 方 的 城 邑 , 取 了 伯 示 麥 、 亞 雅 崙 、 基 低 羅 , 梭 哥 和 屬 梭 哥 的 鄉 村 , 亭 納 和 屬 亭 納 的 鄉 村 , 瑾 鎖 和 屬 瑾 鎖 的 鄉 村 , 就 住 在 那 裡 。

19 因 為 以 色 列 王 亞 哈 斯 在 猶 大 放 肆 , 大 大 干 犯 耶 和 華 , 所 以 耶 和 華 使 猶 大 卑 微 。

20 亞 述 王 提 革 拉 毗 尼 色 上 來 , 卻 沒 有 幫 助 他 , 反 倒 欺 凌 他 。

21 亞 哈 斯 從 耶 和 華 殿 裡 和 王 宮 中 , 並 首 領 家 內 所 取 的 財 寶 給 了 亞 述 王 , 這 也 無 濟 於 事 。

22 這 亞 哈 斯 王 在 急 難 的 時 候 , 越 發 得 罪 耶 和 華 。

23 他 祭 祀 攻 擊 他 的 大 馬 色 之 神 , 說 : 因 為 亞 蘭 王 的 神 幫 助 他 們 , 我 也 獻 祭 與 他 , 他 好 幫 助 我 。 但 那 些 神 使 他 和 以 色 列 眾 人 敗 亡 了 。

24 亞 哈 斯 將 神 殿 裡 的 器 皿 都 聚 了 來 , 毀 壞 了 , 且 封 鎖 耶 和 華 殿 的 門 ; 在 耶 路 撒 冷 各 處 的 拐 角 建 築 祭 壇 ,

25 又 在 猶 大 各 城 建 立 邱 壇 , 與 別 神 燒 香 , 惹 動 耶 和 華 ─ 他 列 祖 神 的 怒 氣 。

26 亞 哈 斯 其 餘 的 事 和 他 的 行 為 , 自 始 至 終 都 寫 在 猶 大 和 以 色 列 諸 王 記 上 。

27 亞 哈 斯 與 他 列 祖 同 睡 , 葬 在 耶 路 撒 冷 城 裡 , 沒 有 送 入 以 色 列 諸 王 的 墳 墓 中 。 他 兒 子 希 西 家 接 續 他 作 王 。

29 希 西 家 登 基 的 時 候 年 二 十 五 歲 , 在 耶 路 撒 冷 作 王 二 十 九 年 。 他 母 親 名 叫 亞 比 雅 , 是 撒 迦 利 雅 的 女 兒 。

希 西 家 行 耶 和 華 眼 中 看 為 正 的 事 , 效 法 他 祖 大 衛 一 切 所 行 的 。

元 年 正 月 , 開 了 耶 和 華 殿 的 門 , 重 新 修 理 。

他 召 眾 祭 司 和 利 未 人 來 , 聚 集 在 東 邊 的 寬 闊 處 ,

對 他 們 說 : 利 未 人 哪 , 當 聽 我 說 : 現 在 你 們 要 潔 淨 自 己 , 又 潔 淨 耶 和 華 ─ 你 們 列 祖 神 的 殿 , 從 聖 所 中 除 去 污 穢 之 物 。

我 們 列 祖 犯 了 罪 , 行 耶 和 華 ─ 我 們 神 眼 中 看 為 惡 的 事 , 離 棄 他 , 轉 臉 背 向 他 的 居 所 ,

封 鎖 廊 門 , 吹 滅 燈 火 , 不 在 聖 所 中 向 以 色 列 神 燒 香 , 或 獻 燔 祭 。

因 此 , 耶 和 華 的 忿 怒 臨 到 猶 大 和 耶 路 撒 冷 , 將 其 中 的 人 拋 來 拋 去 , 令 人 驚 駭 、 嗤 笑 , 正 如 你 們 親 眼 所 見 的 。

所 以 我 們 的 祖 宗 倒 在 刀 下 , 我 們 的 妻 子 兒 女 也 被 擄 掠 。

10 現 在 我 心 中 有 意 與 耶 和 華 ─ 以 色 列 的 神 立 約 , 好 使 他 的 烈 怒 轉 離 我 們 。

11 我 的 眾 子 啊 , 現 在 不 要 懈 怠 ; 因 為 耶 和 華 揀 選 你 們 站 在 他 面 前 事 奉 他 , 與 他 燒 香 。

12 於 是 , 利 未 人 哥 轄 的 子 孫 、 亞 瑪 賽 的 兒 子 瑪 哈 , 亞 撒 利 雅 的 兒 子 約 珥 ; 米 拉 利 的 子 孫 、 亞 伯 底 的 兒 子 基 士 , 耶 哈 利 勒 的 兒 子 亞 撒 利 雅 ; 革 順 的 子 孫 、 薪 瑪 的 兒 子 約 亞 , 約 亞 的 兒 子 伊 甸 ;

13 以 利 撒 反 的 子 孫 申 利 和 耶 利 ; 亞 薩 的 子 孫 撒 迦 利 雅 和 瑪 探 雅 ;

14 希 幔 的 子 孫 耶 歇 和 示 每 ; 耶 杜 頓 的 子 孫 示 瑪 雅 和 烏 薛 ;

15 起 來 聚 集 他 們 的 弟 兄 , 潔 淨 自 己 , 照 著 王 的 吩 咐 、 耶 和 華 的 命 令 , 進 去 潔 淨 耶 和 華 的 殿 。

16 祭 司 進 入 耶 和 華 的 殿 要 潔 淨 殿 , 將 殿 中 所 有 污 穢 之 物 搬 到 耶 和 華 殿 的 院 內 , 利 未 人 接 去 , 搬 到 外 頭 汲 淪 溪 邊 。

17 從 正 月 初 一 日 潔 淨 起 , 初 八 日 到 了 耶 和 華 的 殿 廊 , 用 八 日 的 工 夫 潔 淨 耶 和 華 的 殿 , 到 正 月 十 六 日 才 潔 淨 完 了 。

18 於 是 , 他 們 晉 見 希 西 家 王 , 說 : 我 們 已 將 耶 和 華 的 全 殿 和 燔 祭 壇 , 並 壇 的 一 切 器 皿 、 陳 設 餅 的 桌 子 , 與 桌 子 的 一 切 器 皿 都 潔 淨 了 ;

19 並 且 亞 哈 斯 王 在 位 犯 罪 的 時 候 所 廢 棄 的 器 皿 , 我 們 預 備 齊 全 , 且 潔 淨 了 , 現 今 都 在 耶 和 華 的 壇 前 。

20 希 西 家 王 清 早 起 來 , 聚 集 城 裡 的 首 領 都 上 耶 和 華 的 殿 ;

21 牽 了 七 隻 公 牛 , 七 隻 公 羊 , 七 隻 羊 羔 , 七 隻 公 山 羊 , 要 為 國 、 為 殿 、 為 猶 大 人 作 贖 罪 祭 。 王 吩 咐 亞 倫 的 子 孫 眾 祭 司 , 獻 在 耶 和 華 的 壇 上 ,

22 就 宰 了 公 牛 , 祭 司 接 血 灑 在 壇 上 , 宰 了 公 羊 , 把 血 灑 在 壇 上 , 又 宰 了 羊 羔 , 也 把 血 灑 在 壇 上 ;

23 把 那 作 贖 罪 祭 的 公 山 羊 牽 到 王 和 會 眾 面 前 , 他 們 就 按 手 在 其 上 。

24 祭 司 宰 了 羊 , 將 血 獻 在 壇 上 作 贖 罪 祭 , 為 以 色 列 眾 人 贖 罪 , 因 為 王 吩 咐 將 燔 祭 和 贖 罪 祭 為 以 色 列 眾 人 獻 上 。

25 王 又 派 利 未 人 在 耶 和 華 殿 中 敲 鈸 , 鼓 瑟 , 彈 琴 , 乃 照 大 衛 和 他 先 見 迦 得 , 並 先 知 拿 單 所 吩 咐 的 , 就 是 耶 和 華 藉 先 知 所 吩 咐 的 。

26 利 未 人 拿 大 衛 的 樂 器 , 祭 司 拿 號 , 一 同 站 立 。

27 希 西 家 吩 咐 在 壇 上 獻 燔 祭 , 燔 祭 一 獻 , 就 唱 讚 美 耶 和 華 的 歌 , 用 號 , 並 用 以 色 列 王 大 衛 的 樂 器 相 和 。

28 會 眾 都 敬 拜 , 歌 唱 的 歌 唱 , 吹 號 的 吹 號 , 如 此 直 到 燔 祭 獻 完 了 。

29 獻 完 了 祭 , 王 和 一 切 跟 隨 的 人 都 俯 伏 敬 拜 。

30 希 西 家 王 與 眾 首 領 又 吩 咐 利 未 人 用 大 衛 和 先 見 亞 薩 的 詩 詞 頌 讚 耶 和 華 ; 他 們 就 歡 歡 喜 喜 地 頌 讚 耶 和 華 , 低 頭 敬 拜 。

31 希 西 家 說 : 你 們 既 然 歸 耶 和 華 為 聖 , 就 要 前 來 把 祭 物 和 感 謝 祭 奉 到 耶 和 華 殿 裡 。 會 眾 就 把 祭 物 和 感 謝 祭 奉 來 , 凡 甘 心 樂 意 的 也 將 燔 祭 奉 來 。

32 會 眾 所 奉 的 燔 祭 如 下 : 公 牛 七 十 隻 , 公 羊 一 百 隻 , 羊 羔 二 百 隻 , 這 都 是 作 燔 祭 獻 給 耶 和 華 的 ;

33 又 有 分 別 為 聖 之 物 , 公 牛 六 百 隻 , 綿 羊 三 千 隻 。

34 但 祭 司 太 少 , 不 能 剝 盡 燔 祭 牲 的 皮 , 所 以 他 們 的 弟 兄 利 未 人 幫 助 他 們 , 直 等 燔 祭 的 事 完 了 , 又 等 別 的 祭 司 自 潔 了 ; 因 為 利 未 人 誠 心 自 潔 , 勝 過 祭 司 。

35 燔 祭 和 平 安 祭 牲 的 脂 油 , 並 燔 祭 同 獻 的 奠 祭 甚 多 。 這 樣 , 耶 和 華 殿 中 的 事 務 俱 都 齊 備 了 ( 或 作 就 整 頓 了 ) 。

36 這 事 辦 的 甚 速 , 希 西 家 和 眾 民 都 喜 樂 , 是 因 神 為 眾 民 所 預 備 的 。

28 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father:

For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

Wherefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.

And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.

And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the Lord God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.

10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?

11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.

12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,

13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the Lord already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.

14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

19 For the Lord brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the Lord.

20 And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the Lord, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.

22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz.

23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the Lord God of his fathers.

26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

29 Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.

And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,

And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.

For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs.

Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.

Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.

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

10 Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.

12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:

13 And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:

14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.

15 And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.

16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.

17 Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord: so they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.

18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.

19 Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.

20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

21 And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord.

22 So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

23 And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:

24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25 And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets.

26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.

28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

29 And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.

30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.

32 And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.

33 And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.

35 And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order.

36 And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.

Prologue

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave(A) him to show his servants what must soon take place.(B) He made it known by sending his angel(C) to his servant John,(D) who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God(E) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.(F) Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,(G) because the time is near.(H)

Greetings and Doxology

John,

To the seven churches(I) in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you(J) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,(K) and from the seven spirits[a](L) before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,(M) the firstborn from the dead,(N) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.(O)

To him who loves us(P) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,(Q) and has made us to be a kingdom and priests(R) to serve his God and Father(S)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.(T)

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b](U)
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;(V)
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn(W) because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”(X) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,(Y) the Almighty.”(Z)

John’s Vision of Christ

I, John,(AA) your brother and companion in the suffering(AB) and kingdom(AC) and patient endurance(AD) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God(AE) and the testimony of Jesus.(AF) 10 On the Lord’s Day(AG) I was in the Spirit,(AH) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(AI) 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(AJ) and send it to the seven churches:(AK) to Ephesus,(AL) Smyrna,(AM) Pergamum,(AN) Thyatira,(AO) Sardis,(AP) Philadelphia(AQ) and Laodicea.”(AR)

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(AS) 13 and among the lampstands(AT) was someone like a son of man,[d](AU) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet(AV) and with a golden sash around his chest.(AW) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(AX) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(AY) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(AZ) 16 In his right hand he held seven stars,(BA) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.(BB) His face was like the sun(BC) shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet(BD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me(BE) and said: “Do not be afraid.(BF) I am the First and the Last.(BG) 18 I am the Living One; I was dead,(BH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!(BI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.(BJ)

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen,(BK) what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand(BL) and of the seven golden lampstands(BM) is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches,(BN) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(BO)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
  3. Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
  4. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
  5. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

耶 穌 基 督 的 啟 示 , 就 是 神 賜 給 他 , 叫 他 將 必 要 快 成 的 事 指 示 他 的 眾 僕 人 。 他 就 差 遣 使 者 曉 諭 他 的 僕 人 約 翰 。

約 翰 便 將 神 的 道 和 耶 穌 基 督 的 見 證 , 凡 自 己 所 看 見 的 都 證 明 出 來 。

念 這 書 上 預 言 的 和 那 些 聽 見 又 遵 守 其 中 所 記 載 的 , 都 是 有 福 的 , 因 為 日 期 近 了 。

約 翰 寫 信 給 亞 西 亞 的 七 個 教 會 。 但 願 從 那 昔 在 、 今 在 、 以 後 永 在 的 神 , 和 他 寶 座 前 的 七 靈 ,

並 那 誠 實 作 見 證 的 、 從 死 裡 首 先 復 活 、 為 世 上 君 王 元 首 的 耶 穌 基 督 , 有 恩 惠 、 平 安 歸 與 你 們 ! 他 愛 我 們 , 用 自 己 的 血 使 我 們 脫 離 ( 有 古 卷 作 : 洗 去 ) 罪 惡 ,

又 使 我 們 成 為 國 民 , 作 他 父 神 的 祭 司 。 但 願 榮 耀 、 權 能 歸 給 他 , 直 到 永 永 遠 遠 。 阿 們 !

看 哪 , 他 駕 雲 降 臨 ! 眾 目 要 看 見 他 , 連 刺 他 的 人 也 要 看 見 他 ; 地 上 的 萬 族 都 要 因 他 哀 哭 。 這 話 是 真 實 的 。 阿 們 !

主 神 說 : 我 是 阿 拉 法 , 我 是 俄 梅 戛 , ( 阿 拉 法 , 俄 梅 戛 : 是 希 利 尼 字 母 首 末 二 字 ) , 是 昔 在 、 今 在 、 以 後 永 在 的 全 能 者 。

我 ─ 約 翰 就 是 你 們 的 弟 兄 , 和 你 們 在 耶 穌 的 患 難 、 國 度 、 忍 耐 裡 一 同 有 分 , 為 神 的 道 , 並 為 給 耶 穌 作 的 見 證 , 曾 在 那 名 叫 拔 摩 的 海 島 上 。

10 當 主 日 , 我 被 聖 靈 感 動 , 聽 見 在 我 後 面 有 大 聲 音 如 吹 號 , 說 :

11 你 所 看 見 的 當 寫 在 書 上 , 達 與 以 弗 所 、 士 每 拿 、 別 迦 摩 、 推 雅 推 喇 、 撒 狄 、 非 拉 鐵 非 、 老 底 嘉 、 那 七 個 教 會 。

12 我 轉 過 身 來 , 要 看 是 誰 發 聲 與 我 說 話 ; 既 轉 過 來 , 就 看 見 七 個 金 燈 臺 。

13 燈 臺 中 間 有 一 位 好 像 人 子 , 身 穿 長 衣 , 直 垂 到 腳 , 胸 間 束 著 金 帶 。

14 他 的 頭 與 髮 皆 白 , 如 白 羊 毛 , 如 雪 ; 眼 目 如 同 火 燄 ;

15 腳 好 像 在 爐 中 煆 煉 光 明 的 銅 ; 聲 音 如 同 眾 水 的 聲 音 。

16 他 右 手 拿 著 七 星 , 從 他 口 中 出 來 一 把 兩 刃 的 利 劍 ; 面 貌 如 同 烈 日 放 光 。

17 我 一 看 見 , 就 仆 倒 在 他 腳 前 , 像 死 了 一 樣 。 他 用 右 手 按 著 我 , 說 : 不 要 懼 怕 ! 我 是 首 先 的 , 我 是 末 後 的 ,

18 又 是 那 存 活 的 ; 我 曾 死 過 , 現 在 又 活 了 , 直 活 到 永 永 遠 遠 ; 並 且 拿 著 死 亡 和 陰 間 的 鑰 匙 。

19 所 以 你 要 把 所 看 見 的 , 和 現 在 的 事 , 並 將 來 必 成 的 事 , 都 寫 出 來 。

20 論 到 你 所 看 見 、 在 我 右 手 中 的 七 星 和 七 個 金 燈 臺 的 奧 祕 , 那 七 星 就 是 七 個 教 會 的 使 者 , 七 燈 臺 就 是 七 個 教 會 。

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.