1 希西家派人走遍以色列和犹大， 又写信给以法莲人和玛拿西人， 叫他们到耶路撒冷耶和华的殿来， 守逾越节记念耶和华以色列的 神。 2 因为王和众领袖， 以及耶路撒冷的全体会众曾经商议， 要在二月守逾越节。 3 （但他们不能如期守逾越节， 因为自洁的祭司不够， 人民也没有齐集在耶路撒冷。） 4 王和全体会众都认为这计划很好， 5 于是下了命令， 通告全以色列， 从别是巴直到但， 叫人民来耶路撒冷守逾越节记念耶和华以色列的 神， 因为照着所记的定例举行这节的人不多。 6 信差就带着王和众领袖发出的书信， 走遍全以色列和犹大， 照着王的吩咐， 宣告说： "以色列人哪， 你们应当转向耶和华， 亚伯拉罕、以撒和以色列的 神， 使他也转向这些在亚述王手中逃脱的余民。 7 你们不要像你们的列祖和你们的亲族， 他们得罪了耶和华他们列祖的 神， 以致耶和华使他们成为令人惊骇的对象， 就像你们自己所见的。 8 现在你们不可顽固， 像你们的列祖那样； 要顺服耶和华， 进入他永远分别为圣的圣所， 事奉耶和华你们的 神， 使他的烈怒转离你们。 9 如果你们是归向耶和华， 你们的亲族和儿女就必在俘掳他们的人面前蒙怜悯， 可以返回这地； 因为耶和华你们的 神是有恩惠有怜悯； 如果你们归向他， 他必不转脸不顾你们。" 10 信差从这城到那城， 走遍了以法莲和玛拿西各地， 直到西布伦； 那里的人却戏弄他们， 讥笑他们。 11 可是在亚设、玛拿西和西布伦中， 也有人愿意谦卑， 来到耶路撒冷。 12 神的能力也帮助犹大人， 使他们一心遵行王和众领袖奉耶和华的命令发出的吩咐。 13 二月， 有很多人在耶路撒冷聚集， 要举行无酵节， 集合了一大群会众。 14 他们起来， 把耶路撒冷城中的祭坛和一切香坛， 尽都除去， 拋在汲沦溪中。 15 二月十四日， 他们宰了逾越节的羊羔。祭司和利未人都觉得惭愧， 就自洁， 把燔祭带到耶和华的殿里。 16 他们遵照神人摩西的律法， 按着定例， 站在自己的岗位上。祭司从利未人手里把血接过来， 洒在祭坛上。 17 因为会众中有很多人还没有自洁， 所以利未人必须为所有不洁的人宰杀逾越节的羊羔， 使他们在耶和华面前成为圣洁。 18 原来有一大群人， 很多是从以法莲、玛拿西、以萨迦和西布伦来的， 还没有自洁， 就吃逾越节的羊羔， 不遵照所记的定例； 因此， 希西家为他们祷告说： 19 "凡是立定心意， 专一寻求 神耶和华他们列祖的 神的， 虽然没有照着圣所洁净的礼自洁， 愿良善的耶和华也饶恕他们。" 20 耶和华垂听了希西家的祷告， 就饶恕众民。 21 在耶路撒冷的以色列人， 都十分欢乐地守除酵节七天； 利未人和祭司天天赞美耶和华， 用响亮的乐器赞美耶和华。 22 希西家慰勉所有善于事奉耶和华的利未人； 众人吃节筵七日， 又献上平安祭， 称颂耶和华他们列祖的 神。 23 全体会众商议好了， 要再守节期七天， 于是他们欢欢喜喜地又举行了七天。 24 犹大王希西家送给会众公牛一千头， 羊七千只； 众领袖也送给会众公牛一千头， 羊一万只； 并且有很多祭司自洁。 25 犹大的全体会众、祭司和利未人、从以色列来的全体会众， 以及在以色列地寄居的人和在犹大寄居的人， 都非常欢乐。 26 这样， 在耶路撒冷有极大的欢乐， 自从以色列王大卫的儿子所罗门的日子以来， 在耶路撒冷都没有像这样的欢乐。 27 那时， 利未支派的祭司起来， 给人民祝福； 他们的声音蒙了垂听， 他们的祷告达到天上 神的圣所那里。

1 And Hezekiah sendeth unto all Israel and Judah, and also letters he hath written unto Ephraim and Manasseh, to come in to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, to make a passover to Jehovah, God of Israel.2 And the king taketh counsel, and his heads, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to make the passover in the second month,3 for they have not been able to make it at that time, for the priests have not sanctified themselves sufficiently, and the people have not been gathered to Jerusalem.4 And the thing is right in the eyes of the king, and in the eyes of all the assembly,5 and they establish the thing, to cause to pass over an intimation into all Israel, from Beer-Sheba even unto Dan, to come in to make a passover to Jehovah, God of Israel, in Jerusalem, for not for a long time had they done as it is written.6 And the runners go with letters from the hand of the king and his heads, into all Israel and Judah, even according to the command of the king, saying, `O sons of Israel, turn back unto Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and He doth turn back unto the escaped part that is left of you from the hand of the kings of Asshur;7 and do not be like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, God of their fathers, and He giveth them to desolation, as ye do see.8 `Now, harden not your neck like your fathers, give a hand to Jehovah, and come in to His sanctuary, that He hath sanctified to the age, and serve Jehovah your God, and the fierceness of His anger doth turn back from you;9 for in your turning back unto Jehovah, your brethren and your sons have mercies before their captors, even to return to this land, for gracious and merciful [is] Jehovah your God, and He doth not turn aside the face from you, if ye turn back unto Him.`10 And the runners are passing over from city to city, in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: and they are laughing at them, and mocking at them,11 only, certain from Asher, and Manasseh, and from Zebulun, have been humbled, and come in to Jerusalem.12 Also, in Judah hath the hand of God been to give to them one heart to do the command of the king and of the heads, in the matter of Jehovah;13 and much people are gathered to Jerusalem, to make the feast of unleavened things in the second month -- a mighty assembly for multitude.14 And they arise and turn aside the altars that [are] in Jerusalem, and all the perfume altars they have turned aside, and cast [them] to the brook Kidron;15 and they slaughter the passover-offering on the fourteenth of the second month, and the priests and the Levites have been ashamed, and sanctify themselves, and bring in burnt-offerings to the house of Jehovah.16 And they stand on their station according to their ordinance; according to the law of Moses the man of God the priests are sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites,17 for many [are] in the assembly who have not sanctified themselves, and the Levites [are] over the slaughtering of the passover-offerings for every one not clean, to sanctify [him] to Jehovah:18 for a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, have not been cleansed, but have eaten the passover otherwise than it is written; but Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, `Jehovah, who [is] good, doth receive atonement for every one19 who hath prepared his heart to seek God -- Jehovah, God of his fathers -- yet not according to the cleansing of the sanctuary;`20 and Jehovah hearkeneth unto Hezekiah, and healeth the people.21 And the sons of Israel, those found in Jerusalem, make the feast of unleavened things seven days with great joy; and giving praise to Jehovah day by day are the Levites and the priests, with instruments of praise before Jehovah.22 And Hezekiah speaketh unto the heart of all the Levites, those giving good understanding concerning Jehovah, and they eat the appointed thing seven days; sacrificing sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, God of their fathers.23 And all the assembly take counsel to keep other seven days, and they keep seven days [with] joy;24 for Hezekiah king of Judah hath presented to the assembly a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep; and the heads have presented to the assembly bullocks a thousand, and sheep ten thousand; and priests sanctify themselves in abundance.25 And all the assembly of Judah rejoice, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the assembly, those coming in from Israel, and the sojourners, those coming in from the land of Israel, and those dwelling in Judah,26 and there is great joy in Jerusalem; for from the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there is not like this in Jerusalem,27 and the priests, the Levites, rise and bless the people, and their voice is heard, and their prayer cometh in to His holy habitation, to the heavens.