Josiah{H2977} was eight{H8083} years{H8141} old{H1121} when he began to reign{H4427}{(H8800)}, and he reigned{H4427}{(H8804)} in Jerusalem{H3389} one{H259} and thirty{H7970} years{H8141}.

And he did{H6213}{(H8799)} that which was right{H3477} in the sight{H5869} of the LORD{H3068}, and walked{H3212}{(H8799)} in the ways{H1870} of David{H1732} his father{H1}, and declined{H5493}{(H8804)} neither to the right hand{H3225}, nor to the left{H8040}.

For in the eighth{H8083} year{H8141} of his reign{H4427}{(H8800)}, while he was yet young{H5288}, he began{H2490}{(H8689)} to seek{H1875}{(H8800)} after the God{H430} of David{H1732} his father{H1}: and in the twelfth{H8147}{H6240} year{H8141} he began{H2490}{(H8689)} to purge{H2891}{(H8763)} Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem{H3389} from the high places{H1116}, and the groves{H842}, and the carved images{H6456}, and the molten images{H4541}.

And they brake down{H5422}{(H8762)} the altars{H4196} of Baalim{H1168} in his presence{H6440}; and the images{H2553}, that were on high above them{H4605}, he cut down{H1438}{(H8765)}; and the groves{H842}, and the carved images{H6456}, and the molten images{H4541}, he brake in pieces{H7665}{(H8765)}, and made dust{H1854}{(H8689)} of them, and strowed{H2236}{(H8799)} it upon{H6440} the graves{H6913} of them that had sacrificed{H2076}{(H8802)} unto them.

And he burnt{H8313}{(H8804)} the bones{H6106} of the priests{H3548} upon their altars{H4196}, and cleansed{H2891}{(H8762)} Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem{H3389}.

And so did he in the cities{H5892} of Manasseh{H4519}, and Ephraim{H669}, and Simeon{H8095}, even unto Naphtali{H5321}, with their mattocks{H2719} round about{H5439}.

And when he had broken down{H5422}{(H8762)} the altars{H4196} and the groves{H842}, and had beaten{H3807}{(H8765)} the graven images{H6456} into powder{H1854}{(H8687)}, and cut down{H1438}{(H8765)} all the idols{H2553} throughout all the land{H776} of Israel{H3478}, he returned{H7725}{(H8799)} to Jerusalem{H3389}.

Now in the eighteenth{H8083}{H6240} year{H8141} of his reign{H4427}{(H8800)}, when he had purged{H2891}{(H8763)} the land{H776}, and the house{H1004}, he sent{H7971}{(H8804)} Shaphan{H8227} the son{H1121} of Azaliah{H683}, and Maaseiah{H4641} the governor{H8269} of the city{H5892}, and Joah{H3098} the son{H1121} of Joahaz{H3099} the recorder{H2142}{(H8688)}, to repair{H2388}{(H8763)} the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068} his God{H430}.

And when they came{H935}{(H8799)} to Hilkiah{H2518} the high{H1419} priest{H3548}, they delivered{H5414}{(H8799)} the money{H3701} that was brought{H935}{(H8716)} into the house{H1004} of God{H430}, which the Levites{H3881} that kept{H8104}{(H8802)} the doors{H5592} had gathered{H622}{(H8804)} of the hand{H3027} of Manasseh{H4519} and Ephraim{H669}, and of all the remnant{H7611} of Israel{H3478}, and of all Judah{H3063} and Benjamin{H1144}; and they returned{H7725}{(H8799)}{(H8675)}{H3427}{(H8802)} to Jerusalem{H3389}.

And they put{H5414}{(H8799)} it in the hand{H3027} of the workmen{H6213}{(H8802)}{H4399} that had the oversight{H6485}{(H8716)} of the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, and they gave{H5414}{(H8799)} it to the workmen{H6213}{(H8802)}{H4399} that wrought{H6213}{(H8802)} in the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, to repair{H918}{(H8800)} and amend{H2388}{(H8763)} the house{H1004}:

Even to the artificers{H2796} and builders{H1129}{(H8802)} gave{H5414}{(H8799)} they it, to buy{H7069}{(H8800)} hewn{H4274} stone{H68}, and timber{H6086} for couplings{H4226}, and to floor{H7136}{(H8763)} the houses{H1004} which the kings{H4428} of Judah{H3063} had destroyed{H7843}{(H8689)}.

And the men{H582} did{H6213}{(H8802)} the work{H4399} faithfully{H530}: and the overseers{H5329}{(H8763)} of them were Jahath{H3189} and Obadiah{H5662}, the Levites{H3881}, of the sons{H1121} of Merari{H4847}; and Zechariah{H2148} and Meshullam{H4918}, of the sons of the Kohathites{H6956}, to set it forward{H6485}{(H8716)}; and other of the Levites{H3881}, all that could skill{H995}{(H8688)} of instruments{H3627} of musick{H7892}.

Also they were over the bearers of burdens{H5449}, and were overseers{H5329}{(H8764)} of all that wrought{H6213}{(H8802)} the work{H4399} in any manner of service{H5656}: and of the Levites{H3881} there were scribes{H5608}{(H8802)}, and officers{H7860}{(H8802)}, and porters{H7778}.

And when they brought out{H3318}{(H8687)} the money{H3701} that was brought into{H935}{(H8716)} the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, Hilkiah{H2518} the priest{H3548} found{H4672}{(H8804)} a book{H5612} of the law{H8451} of the LORD{H3068} given by{H3027} Moses{H4872}.

And Hilkiah{H2518} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)} to Shaphan{H8227} the scribe{H5608}{(H8802)}, I have found{H4672}{(H8804)} the book{H5612} of the law{H8451} in the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}. And Hilkiah{H2518} delivered{H5414}{(H8799)} the book{H5612} to Shaphan{H8227}.

And Shaphan{H8227} carried{H935}{(H8686)} the book{H5612} to the king{H4428}, and brought{H7725} the king{H4428} word{H1697} back{H7725}{(H8686)} again, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, All that was committed{H5414}{(H8738)} to{H3027} thy servants{H5650}, they do{H6213}{(H8802)} it.

And they have gathered together{H5413}{(H8686)} the money{H3701} that was found{H4672}{(H8737)} in the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, and have delivered{H5414}{(H8799)} it into the hand{H3027} of the overseers{H6485}{(H8716)}, and to the hand{H3027} of the workmen{H6213}{(H8802)}{H4399}.

Then Shaphan{H8227} the scribe{H5608}{(H8802)} told{H5046}{(H8686)} the king{H4428}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Hilkiah{H2518} the priest{H3548} hath given{H5414}{(H8804)} me a book{H5612}. And Shaphan{H8227} read{H7121}{(H8799)} it before{H6440} the king{H4428}.

And it came to pass, when the king{H4428} had heard{H8085}{(H8800)} the words{H1697} of the law{H8451}, that he rent{H7167}{(H8799)} his clothes{H899}.

And the king{H4428} commanded{H6680}{(H8762)} Hilkiah{H2518}, and Ahikam{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan{H8227}, and Abdon{H5658} the son{H1121} of Micah{H4318}, and Shaphan{H8227} the scribe{H5608}{(H8802)}, and Asaiah{H6222} a servant{H5650} of the king's{H4428}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, enquire{H1875}{(H8798)} of the LORD{H3068} for me, and for them that are left{H7604}{(H8737)} in Israel{H3478} and in Judah{H3063}, concerning the words{H1697} of the book{H5612} that is found{H4672}{(H8738)}: for great{H1419} is the wrath{H2534} of the LORD{H3068} that is poured out{H5413}{(H8738)} upon us, because our fathers{H1} have not kept{H8104}{(H8804)} the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}, to do{H6213}{(H8800)} after all that is written{H3789}{(H8803)} in this book{H5612}.

And Hilkiah{H2518}, and they that the king{H4428} had appointed, went{H3212}{(H8799)} to Huldah{H2468} the prophetess{H5031}, the wife{H802} of Shallum{H7967} the son{H1121} of Tikvath{H8616}{(H8676)}{H8445}, the son{H1121} of Hasrah{H2641}, keeper{H8104}{(H8802)} of the wardrobe{H899};(now she dwelt{H3427}{(H8802)} in Jerusalem{H3389} in the college{H4932}:) and they spake{H1696}{(H8762)} to her to that effect.

And she answered{H559}{(H8799)} them, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, Tell{H559}{(H8798)} ye the man{H376} that sent{H7971}{(H8804)} you to me,

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, Behold, I will bring{H935}{(H8688)} evil{H7451} upon this place{H4725}, and upon the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} thereof, even all the curses{H423} that are written{H3789}{(H8803)} in the book{H5612} which they have read{H7121}{(H8804)} before{H6440} the king{H4428} of Judah{H3063}:

Because they have forsaken{H5800}{(H8804)} me, and have burned incense{H6999}{(H8762)}{(H8675)}{H6999}{(H8686)} unto other{H312} gods{H430}, that they might provoke me to anger{H3707}{(H8687)} with all the works{H4639} of their hands{H3027}; therefore my wrath{H2534} shall be poured out{H5413}{(H8799)} upon this place{H4725}, and shall not be quenched{H3518}{(H8799)}.

And as for{H413} the king{H4428} of Judah{H3063}, who sent{H7971}{(H8802)} you to enquire{H1875}{(H8800)} of the LORD{H3068}, so shall ye say{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478} concerning the words{H1697} which thou hast heard{H8085}{(H8804)};

Because thine heart{H3824} was tender{H7401}{(H8804)}, and thou didst humble{H3665}{(H8735)} thyself before{H6440} God{H430}, when thou heardest{H8085}{(H8800)} his words{H1697} against this place{H4725}, and against the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} thereof, and humbledst{H3665}{(H8735)} thyself before{H6440} me, and didst rend{H7167}{(H8799)} thy clothes{H899}, and weep{H1058}{(H8799)} before{H6440} me; I have even heard{H8085}{(H8804)} thee also, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}.

Behold, I will gather{H622}{(H8802)} thee to thy fathers{H1}, and thou shalt be gathered{H622}{(H8738)} to thy grave{H6913} in peace{H7965}, neither shall thine eyes{H5869} see{H7200}{(H8799)} all the evil{H7451} that I will bring{H935}{(H8688)} upon this place{H4725}, and upon the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of the same. So they brought{H7725} the king{H4428} word{H1697} again{H7725}{(H8686)}.

Then the king{H4428} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} and gathered together{H622}{(H8799)} all the elders{H2205} of Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem{H3389}.

And the king{H4428} went up{H5927}{(H8799)} into the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, and all the men{H376} of Judah{H3063}, and the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Jerusalem{H3389}, and the priests{H3548}, and the Levites{H3881}, and all the people{H5971}, great{H1419} and small{H6996}: and he read{H7121}{(H8799)} in their ears{H241} all the words{H1697} of the book{H5612} of the covenant{H1285} that was found{H4672}{(H8737)} in the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}.

And the king{H4428} stood{H5975}{(H8799)} in his place{H5977}, and made{H3772}{(H8799)} a covenant{H1285} before{H6440} the LORD{H3068}, to walk{H3212}{(H8800)} after{H310} the LORD{H3068}, and to keep{H8104}{(H8800)} his commandments{H4687}, and his testimonies{H5715}, and his statutes{H2706}, with all his heart{H3824}, and with all his soul{H5315}, to perform{H6213}{(H8800)} the words{H1697} of the covenant{H1285} which are written{H3789}{(H8803)} in this book{H5612}.

And he caused all that were present{H4672}{(H8737)} in Jerusalem{H3389} and Benjamin{H1144} to stand{H5975}{(H8686)} to it. And the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Jerusalem{H3389} did{H6213}{(H8799)} according to the covenant{H1285} of God{H430}, the God{H430} of their fathers{H1}.

And Josiah{H2977} took away{H5493}{(H8686)} all the abominations{H8441} out of all the countries{H776} that pertained to the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, and made all that were present{H4672}{(H8737)} in Israel{H3478} to serve{H5647}{(H8686)}, even to serve{H5647}{(H8800)} the LORD{H3068} their God{H430}. And all his days{H3117} they departed{H5493}{(H8804)} not from following{H310} the LORD{H3068}, the God{H430} of their fathers{H1}.