1Now 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 celebrate the Passover to the LORD 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─以色列的神守逾越節；
2For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate 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。
3since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem.
3正月(原文作那時)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；
4Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.
4王與全會眾都以這事為善。
5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated [it] in great numbers as it was 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─以色列的神守逾越節；因為照所寫的例，守這節的不多了(或作因為民許久沒有照所寫的例守節了)。
6The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, 'O sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped [and] are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria.
6驛卒就把王和眾首領的信，遵著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、以色列的神，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 your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you 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─他們列祖的神，以致耶和華丟棄他們，使他們敗亡(或作令人驚駭)，正如你們所見的。
8'Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you.
8現在不要像你們列祖硬著頸項，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─你們的神，好使他的烈怒轉離你們。
9'For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons [will find] compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and 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─你們的神有恩典、施憐憫。你們若轉向他，他必不轉臉不顧你們。
10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn 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。那裡的人卻戲笑他們，譏誚他們。
11Nevertheless some men of 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。
12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.
12神也感動猶大人，使他們一心遵行王與眾首領憑耶和華之言所發的命令。
13Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly.
13二月，有許多人在耶路撒冷聚集，成為大會，要守除酵節。
14They arose and removed the altars which [were] in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and cast [them] into the brook Kidron.
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。
15Then they slaughtered the Passover [lambs] on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and 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，
16They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood [which they received] from the hand of the Levites.
16遵著神人摩西的律法，照例站在自己的地方；祭司從利未人手裡接過血來，灑在壇上。
17For [there were] many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites [were] over the slaughter of the Passover [lambs] for everyone who [was] unclean, in order to consecrate [them] 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。
18For a multitude of the people, [even] many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, 'May the good LORD pardon
18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羔羊，不合所記錄的定例。希西家為他們禱告說：凡專心尋求神，就是耶和華─他列祖之 神的，雖不照著聖所潔淨之禮自潔，求至善的耶和華也饒恕他。
19everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification [rules] of the sanctuary.'
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20So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
20耶和華垂聽希西家的禱告，就饒恕(原文作醫治)百姓。
21The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread [for] seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day after day with loud instruments 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。
22Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight [in the things] of the LORD. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD 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─他們列祖的神認罪。
23Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate [the feast] another seven days, so they celebrated the 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。
24For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large 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。
25All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living 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。
26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the 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。
27Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.
27那時，祭司、利未人起來，為民祝福。他們的聲音蒙神垂聽，他們的禱告達到天上的聖所。