¹⁸ For a multitude of the people, ^(A)many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, ^(B)yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone ¹⁹ who ^(C)prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” ²⁰ And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

²¹ So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept ^(D)the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. ²² And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites ^(E)who taught the good knowledge of the Lord; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and ^(F)making confession to the Lord God of their fathers.

²⁷ Then the priests, the Levites, arose and ^(A)blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to ^(B)His holy dwelling place, to heaven.