预备守逾越节
希西家派人去见以色列和犹大众人，又写信给以法莲和玛拿西人，要他们到耶路撒冷耶和华的殿，向耶和华－以色列的神守逾越节，
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
2因为王和众领袖，以及耶路撒冷全会众已经商议，要在二月份守逾越节。For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.
3那时他们不能守，因为分别为圣的祭司不够，百姓也还没有聚集在耶路撒冷。For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
4这事在王与全会众眼中都看为合宜。And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.
5于是他们下令，通告全以色列，从别是巴直到但，吩咐百姓都来，在耶路撒冷向耶和华－以色列的神守逾越节，因为他们已经许久没有照所写的守这节了☛“他们已经...守这节了”或译“照所写的条例守这节的人已经不多了”。。So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.
6信差遵着王命，拿着王和众领袖所发的信，送达全以色列和犹大，说：“以色列人哪，当转向耶和华－亚伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的神，好叫他转向你们这些脱离亚述诸王之手的余民。So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
7不要效法你们的祖先和你们的弟兄；他们干犯耶和华－他们列祖的神，以致耶和华使他们令人惊骇，正如你们所见的。And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
8现在，不要像你们祖先硬着颈项，只要归顺耶和华，进入他的圣所，就是永远成圣的居所，又要事奉耶和华－你们的神，好使他的烈怒转离你们。Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
9你们若转向耶和华，你们的弟兄和儿女必在掳掠他们的人面前蒙怜悯，得以归回这地，因为耶和华－你们的神有恩惠，有怜悯。你们若转向他，他必不会转脸不顾你们。”For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
10信差从这城跑到那城，传遍了以法莲和玛拿西之地，直到西布伦；那里的人却戏笑他们，讥诮他们。So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
11然而亚设、玛拿西、西布伦中也有人谦卑自己，来到耶路撒冷。Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
12神也按手在犹大人身上，使他们一心遵行王与众领袖照着耶和华的话所发的命令。守逾越节
Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.
13二月时，许多百姓聚集在耶路撒冷，成为一个盛大的会，要守除酵节。And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.
14他们起来，把耶路撒冷的祭坛和烧香的坛尽都除去，扔在汲沦溪中。And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
15二月十四日，他们宰了逾越节的羔羊。祭司与利未人觉得惭愧，就使自己分别为圣，把燔祭奉到耶和华的殿中。Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.
16他们遵照神人摩西的律法，按定例站在自己的地方；祭司从利未人手里接过血来，洒出去。And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.
17会众中有许多人尚未分别为圣，所以利未人为所有不洁的人宰逾越节的羔羊，使他们归耶和华为圣。For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.
18从以法莲、玛拿西、以萨迦、西布伦来的许多百姓尚未自洁，他们却吃逾越节的羔羊，不合所写的条例。希西家为他们祷告说：“求至善的耶和华饶恕For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one
19那凡专心寻求神耶和华－他列祖的神，却未照圣所洁净礼自洁的人。”That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.
20耶和华应允希西家，医治了百姓。And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
21在耶路撒冷的以色列人守除酵节七日，大大喜乐。利未人和祭司为耶和华演奏响亮的乐器，天天颂赞耶和华。And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.
22希西家慰劳所有精通礼仪，事奉耶和华的利未人。于是众人吃节期的筵席七日，又献平安祭，并且称谢耶和华－他们列祖的神。再度守节
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.
23全会众商议，要再守节七日；于是他们欢欢喜喜地又守节七日。And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.
24犹大王希西家赐给会众一千头公牛、七千只羊；众领袖也赐给会众一千头公牛、一万只羊，并有许多祭司将自己分别为圣。For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
25犹大全会众、祭司、利未人和从以色列来的全会众，以及那些从以色列地来的和住在犹大的寄居的人，尽都喜乐。And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.
26这样，在耶路撒冷大有喜乐，因自从以色列王大卫的儿子所罗门以来，在耶路撒冷从未有过这样的喜乐。So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
27那时，祭司和利未人起来，为百姓祝福。他们的声音蒙神垂听，他们的祷告达到他天上的圣所。Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.