2 Chronicles 30

1 Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel.

1 希西家差遣人去見以色列和猶大眾人，又寫信給以法蓮和瑪拿西人，叫他們到耶路撒冷耶和華的殿，向耶和華－以色列的上帝守逾越節；

2 For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month,

2 因為王和眾首領，並耶路撒冷全會眾已經商議，要在二月內守逾越節。

3 since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.

3 正月 間他們不能守；因為自潔的祭司尚不敷用，百姓也沒有聚集在耶路撒冷；

4 This plan pleased the king and the whole assembly.

4 王與全會眾都以這事為善。

5 So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it in great numbers as prescribed.

5 於是定了命令，傳遍以色列，從別是巴直到但，使他們都來，在耶路撒冷向耶和華－以色列的上帝守逾越節；因為照所寫的例，守這節的不多了 。

6 At the command of the king, the couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, which read: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that He may return to those of you who remain, who have escaped the grasp of the kings of Assyria.

6 驛卒就把王和眾首領的信，遵着王命傳遍以色列和猶大。信內說：「以色列人哪，你們當轉向耶和華－亞伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的上帝，好叫他轉向你們這脫離亞述王手的餘民。

7 Do not be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.

7 你們不要效法你們列祖和你們的弟兄；他們干犯耶和華－他們列祖的上帝，以致耶和華丟棄他們，使他們敗亡 ，正如你們所見的。

8 Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.

8 現在不要像你們列祖硬着頸項，只要歸順耶和華，進入他的聖所，就是永遠成聖的居所；又要事奉耶和華－你們的上帝，好使他的烈怒轉離你們。

9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

9 你們若轉向耶和華，你們的弟兄和兒女必在擄掠他們的人面前蒙憐恤，得以歸回這地，因為耶和華－你們的上帝有恩典、施憐憫。你們若轉向他，他必不轉臉不顧你們。」

10 And the couriers traveled from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but the people scorned and mocked them.

10 驛卒就由這城跑到那城，傳遍了以法蓮、瑪拿西，直到西布倫。那裏的人卻戲笑他們，譏誚他們。

11 Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

11 然而亞設、瑪拿西、西布倫中也有人自卑，來到耶路撒冷。

12 Moreover, the power of God was on the people in Judah to give them one heart to obey the command of the king and his officials according to the word of the LORD.

12 上帝也感動猶大人，使他們一心遵行王與眾首領憑耶和華之言所發的命令。

13 In the second month, a very great assembly gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

13 二月，有許多人在耶路撒冷聚集，成為大會，要守除酵節。

14 They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley.

14 他們起來，把耶路撒冷的祭壇和燒香的壇盡都除去，拋在汲淪溪中。

15 And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.

15 二月十四日，宰了逾越節的羊羔。祭司與利未人覺得慚愧，就潔淨自己，把燔祭奉到耶和華殿中，

16 They stood at their prescribed posts, according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests splattered the blood, which they received from the hand of the Levites.

16 遵着神人摩西的律法，照例站在自己的地方；祭司從利未人手裏接過血來，灑在壇上。

17 Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD.

17 會中有許多人尚未自潔，所以利未人為一切不潔之人宰逾越節的羊羔，使他們在耶和華面前成為聖潔。

18 A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone

18–19 以法蓮、瑪拿西、以薩迦、西布倫有許多人尚未自潔，他們卻也吃逾越節的羊羔，不合所記錄的定例。希西家為他們禱告說：「凡專心尋求上帝，就是耶和華－他列祖之上帝的，雖不照着聖所潔淨之禮自潔，求至善的耶和華也饒恕他。」

19 who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

20 耶和華垂聽希西家的禱告，就饒恕 百姓。

21 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD.

21 在耶路撒冷的以色列人大大喜樂，守除酵節七日。利未人和祭司用響亮的樂器，日日頌讚耶和華。

22 And Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites who performed skillfully before the LORD. For seven days they ate their assigned portion, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

22 希西家慰勞一切善於事奉耶和華的利未人。於是眾人吃節筵七日，又獻平安祭，且向耶和華－他們列祖的上帝認罪。

23 The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joy.

23 全會眾商議，要再守節七日；於是歡歡喜喜地又守節七日。

24 For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the assembly, and a great number of priests consecrated themselves.

24 猶大王希西家賜給會眾公牛一千隻，羊七千隻為祭物；眾首領也賜給會眾公牛一千隻，羊一萬隻，並有許多的祭司潔淨自己。

25 Then the whole assembly of Judah rejoiced along with the priests and Levites and the whole assembly that had come from Israel, including the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah.

25 猶大全會眾、祭司、利未人，並那從以色列地來的會眾和寄居的人，以及猶大寄居的人，盡都喜樂。

26 So there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel.

26 這樣，在耶路撒冷大有喜樂，自從以色列王大衛兒子所羅門的時候，在耶路撒冷沒有這樣的喜樂。

27 Then the priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard their voice, and their prayer came into His holy dwelling place in heaven.

27 那時，祭司、利未人起來，為民祝福。他們的聲音蒙上帝垂聽，他們的禱告達到天上的聖所。