Reversus est autem Josaphat rex Juda in domum suam pacifice in Jerusalem.

But Josaphat came home safe and sound to Jerusalem.

And Josaphat king of Juda returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

Cui occurrit Jehu filius Henani videns, et ait ad eum: Impio præbes auxilium, et his qui oderunt Dominum amicitia jungeris, et idcirco iram quidem Domini merebaris:

There he was met by the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani, who said, What, wilt thou comfort the sinner, ally thyself with the Lord’s enemies? Nay, thou wouldst have brought the Lord’s vengeance on thyself,

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer met him, and said to him: Thou helpest the ungodly, and thou art joined in friendship with them that hate the Lord, and therefore thou didst deserve indeed the wrath of the Lord:

sed bona opera inventa sunt in te, eo quod abstuleris lucos de terra Juda, et præparaveris cor tuum ut requireres Dominum Deum patrum tuorum.

but for those worthy deeds thou hast to shew. Well for thee that thou hast rid Juda of those shrines, taken that resolve to have recourse only to the God of thy fathers!

But good works are found in thee, because thou hast taken away the groves out of the land of Juda, and hast prepared thy heart to seek the Lord the God of thy fathers.

Habitavit ergo Josaphat in Jerusalem, rursumque egressus est ad populum de Bersabee usque ad montem Ephraim, et revocavit eos ad Dominum Deum patrum suorum.

And now, returned to his capital, Josaphat set out on a progress all through his kingdom, from Bersabee to the hill country of Ephraim, recalling the Lord God of their fathers to his people’s minds anew.

And Josaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again to the people from Bersabee to mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord the God of their fathers.

Constituitque judices terræ in cunctis civitatibus Juda munitis per singula loca,

In every fortified city he appointed judges;

And he set judges of the land in all the fenced cities of Juda, in every place.

et præcipiens judicibus: Videte, ait, quid faciatis: non enim hominis exercetis judicium, sed Domini: et quodcumque judicaveritis, in vos redundabit.

and this was the charge he gave them: Take heed how you perform your office; it is the Lord’s commission you hold, not man’s, and according to the award you make, yourselves will be judged.

And charging the judges, he said: Take heed what you do: for you exercise not the judgment of man, but of the Lord: and whatsoever you judge, it shall redound to you.

Sit timor Domini vobiscum, et cum diligentia cuncta facite: non est enim apud Dominum Deum nostrum iniquitas, nec personarum acceptio, nec cupido munerum.

As you fear the Lord’s vengeance, do not spare yourselves any pains; when the Lord our God gives sentence, there is no wrongful award, no room for flattery of the great, or for bribery.

Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and do all things with diligence: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor desire of gifts.

In Jerusalem quoque constituit Josaphat Levitas, et sacerdotes, et principes familiarum ex Israël, ut judicium et causam Domini judicarent habitatoribus ejus.

At Jerusalem, too, he set up courts, under Levites, and priests, and heads of families, to give sentence and award in the Lord’s name to the citizens.

In Jerusalem also Josaphat appointed Levites, and priests and chiefs of the families of Israel, to judge the judgment and the cause of the Lord for the inhabitants thereof.

Præcepitque eis, dicens: Sic agetis in timore Domini fideliter et corde perfecto.

As you fear the Lord’s vengeance, he warned them, go about your work faithfully, with sincere hearts.

And he charged them, saying: Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

Omnem causam quæ venerit ad vos fratrum vestrorum, qui habitant in urbibus suis inter cognationem et cognationem, ubicumque quæstio est de lege, de mandato, de cæremoniis, de justificationibus: ostendite eis, ut non peccent in Dominum, et ne veniat ira super vos et super fratres vestros: sic ergo agentes non peccabitis.

Suits will be remitted to you by your brethren in the other cities, of feud between clan and clan, of issues between law and decree, between statute and award given; yours to resolve their doubts, lest they should incur guilt in the Lord’s eyes, and bring punishment on you and themselves alike. So shall your duty be done faultlessly;

Every cause that shall come to you of your brethren, that dwell in their cities, between kindred and kindred, wheresoever there is question concerning the law, the commandment, the ceremonies, the justifications: shew it them, that they may not sin against the Lord, and that wrath may not come upon you and your brethren: and so doing you shall not sin.

Amarias autem sacerdos et pontifex vester in his quæ ad Deum pertinent, præsidebit: porro Zabadias filius Ismahel, qui est dux in domo Juda, super ea opera erit quæ ad regis officium pertinent: habetisque magistros Levitas coram vobis. Confortamini, et agite diligenter, et erit Dominus vobiscum in bonis.

where God’s rights are concerned, your high priest Amarias will preside over you, and Zabadias son of Ismahel, Juda’s own chieftain, will have charge of every case that touches the king’s prerogative. The Levites are at your side to instruct you; boldly and carefully set about your task, and the Lord will be with you to defend the right.

And Amarias the priest your high priest shall be chief in the things which regard God: and Zabadias the son of Ismahel, who is ruler in the house of Juda, shall be over those matters which belong to the king’s office: and you have before you the Levites for masters, take courage and do diligently, and the Lord will be with you in good things.