2 Chronicles 19:4-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Reforms of Jehoshaphat
4 Jehoshaphat resided at Jerusalem; then he went out again among the people, from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.(A) 5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of humans but on the Lord’s behalf; he is with you in giving judgment.(B) 7 Now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the Lord our God or partiality or taking of bribes.”(C)
8 Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem.(D) 9 He charged them, “This is how you shall act: in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart;(E) 10 whenever a case comes to you from your kindred who live in their cities concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or ordinances, then you shall instruct them, so that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come on you and your kindred. Do so, and you will not incur guilt.(F) 11 See, 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; and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the good!”(G)
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2 Chronicles 19:4-11
Evangelical Heritage Version
Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges
4 Jehoshaphat ruled from[a] Jerusalem.
He once again went out among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed judges throughout the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.
6 He said to the judges, “Watch what you do, because you are not judging for the people, but for the Lord. He is with you as you judge. 7 Now may the dread of the Lord be upon you. Watch what you do, because there is no injustice, partiality, or taking bribes with the Lord our God.”
8 In Jerusalem too Jehoshaphat appointed men from the Levites, the priests, and the leading fathers of Israel to act as judges on behalf of the Lord and to settle disputes, and they presided in[b] Jerusalem.
9 He commanded them:
This is how you are to conduct yourselves in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart. 10 In every case concerning bloodshed, law, commands, statutes, or ordinances that comes to you from your brother Israelites who live in their cities, you will instruct them so that they will not incur guilt before the Lord, and so that wrath does not come upon you and upon your brothers. If you do this, you will not incur guilt.
11 Take note of this. Amariah the head priest is over you in all matters concerning the Lord. Zebadiah son of Ishmael is the governor for the house of Judah in all matters concerning the king. The Levites are officials for you. Act courageously. The Lord will be with those who do what is good.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 19:4 Or lived in
- 2 Chronicles 19:8 The translation follows the reading of the Greek Old Testament. The Hebrew reads they returned to Jerusalem.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.