Now Ezechias began to reign, when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Abia, the daughter of Zacharias.

Igitur Ezechias regnare cœpit, cum viginti quinque esset annorum, et viginti novem annis regnavit in Jerusalem: nomen matris ejus Abia filia Zachariæ.

Ezechias was twenty-five years old when he came to the throne, and his reign at Jerusalem lasted twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abia, the daughter of Zacharias.

And he did that which was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

Fecitque quod erat placitum in conspectu Domini, juxta omnia quæ fecerat David pater ejus.

Here was one that obeyed the Lord’s will no less than his father David before him.

In the first year and month of his reign he opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them.

Ipse, anno et mense primo regni sui, aperuit valvas domus Domini, et instauravit eas.

In the first year of his reign, when the first month came round, he opened the gates of the Lord’s house again, and put them in repair.

And he brought the priests and the Levites, and assembled them in the east street.

Adduxitque sacerdotes atque Levitas, et congregavit eos in plateam orientalem.

Then he summoned the priests and the Levites to assemble in the open space east of the temple.

And he said to them: Hear me, ye Levites, and be sanctified, purify the house of the Lord the God of your fathers, and take away all filth out of the sanctuary.

Dixitque ad eos: Audite me, Levitæ, et sanctificamini: mundate domum Domini Dei patrum vestrorum, et auferte omnem immunditiam de sanctuario.

Men of Levi, he said, it is my will that you should cleanse yourselves; cleanse, too, the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and rid his sanctuary of all defilement.

Our fathers have sinned and done evil in the sight of the Lord God, forsaking him: they have turned away their faces from the tabernacle of the Lord, and turned their backs.

Peccaverunt patres nostri, et fecerunt malum in conspectu Domini Dei nostri, derelinquentes eum: averterunt facies suas a tabernaculo Domini, et præbuerunt dorsum.

Ours is an inheritance of guilt, from fathers who have disobeyed the Lord our God, and forsaken him; turned their backs on his dwelling-place, where their eyes should ever be.

They have shut up the doors that were in the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burnt incense, nor offered holocausts in the sanctuary of the God of Israel.

Clauserunt ostia quæ erant in porticu, et extinxerunt lucernas, incensumque non adoleverunt, et holocausta non obtulerunt in sanctuario Deo Israël.

Fast shut were the gates of yonder porch, spent the lamps, never did incense smoke, never was victim offered in the sanctuary of the God of Israel.

Therefore the wrath of the Lord hath been stirred up against Juda and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, and to destruction, and to be hissed at, as you see with your eyes.

Concitatus est itaque furor Domini super Judam et Jerusalem, tradiditque eos in commotionem, et in interitum, et in sibilum, sicut ipsi cernitis oculis vestris.

What wonder if the Lord was angry with Juda and Jerusalem, doomed them to unrest, and ruin, and disgrace, such as you see all around?

Behold, our fathers are fallen by the sword, our sons, and our daughters, and wives are led away captives for this wickedness.

En corruerunt patres nostri gladiis: filii nostri, et filiæ nostræ, et conjuges captivæ ductæ sunt propter hoc scelus.

What wonder if they fell in battle, these fathers of ours; if sons and daughters and wives were carried off into exile?

Now therefore I have a mind that we make a covenant with the Lord the God of Israel, and he will turn away the wrath of his indignation from us.

Nunc ergo placet mihi ut ineamus fœdus cum Domino Deo Israël, et avertet a nobis furorem iræ suæ.

Here, then, is my resolve; we must bind ourselves by a covenant to the Lord our God, if his fierce anger is to relent.

My sons, be not negligent: the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, and to minister to him, and to worship him, and to burn incense to him.

Filii mei, nolite negligere: vos elegit Dominus ut stetis coram eo, et ministretis illi, colatisque eum, et cremetis ei incensum.

As my own sons I charge you, do not stand by with folded hands; on you the Lord’s choice has fallen, to wait upon his presence, ministering, and doing worship, and burning incense before him.

Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azarias, of the sons of Caath: and of the sons of Merari, Cis the son of Abdi, and Azarias the son of Jalaleel. And of the sons of Gerson, Joah the son of Zemma, and Eden the son of Joah.

Surrexerunt ergo Levitæ: Mahath filius Amasai, et Joël filius Azariæ de filiis Caath: porro de filiis Merari, Cis filius Abdi, et Azarias filius Jalaleel. De filiis autem Gersom, Joah filius Zemma, et Eden filius Joah.

Well did the Levites answer his call; Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azarias, Caathites; Cis son of Abdi and Azarias son of Jalaleel, Merarites; Joah son of Zemma and Joah’s son Eden, Gersonites;

And of the sons of Elisaphan, Samri, and Jahiel. Also of the sons of Asaph, Zacharias, and Mathanias.

At vero de filiis Elisaphan, Samri, et Jahiel. De filiis quoque Asaph, Zacharias, et Mathanias:

of Elisaphan’s sons, Samri and Jahiel, of Asaph’s, Zacharias and Mathanias,

And of the sons of Heman, Jahiel, and Semei: and of the sons of Idithun, Semeias, and Oziel.

necnon de filiis Heman, Jahiel, et Semei: sed et de filiis Idithun, Semeias, et Oziel.

of Heman’s, Jahiel and Semei, of Idithun’s, Semeias and Oziel.

And they gathered together their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and went in according to the commandment of the king, and the precept of the Lord, to purify the house of God.

Congregaveruntque fratres suos, et sanctificati sunt, et ingressi sunt juxta mandatum regis et imperium Domini, ut expiarent domum Dei.

Mustering their brethren, they purified themselves, and so, obedient to the royal command and the divine will, entered into God’s house to cleanse it.

And the priests went into the temple of the Lord to sanctify it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found within to the entrance of the house of the Lord, and the Levites took it away, and carried it out abroad to the torrent Cedron.

Sacerdotes quoque ingressi templum Domini ut sanctificarent illud, extulerunt omnem immunditiam quam intro repererant in vestibulo domus Domini: quam tulerunt Levitæ, et asportaverunt ad torrentem Cedron foras.

The priests, too, were in the Lord’s temple for the cleansing; no unhallowed thing they found in porch or temple but the Levites carried it away, into the Cedron valley beyond.

And they began to cleanse on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the same month they came into the porch of the temple of the Lord, and they purified the temple in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the same month they finished what they had begun.

Cœperunt autem prima die mensis primi mundare, et in die octavo ejusdem mensis ingressi sunt porticum templi Domini, expiaveruntque templum diebus octo, et in die sextadecima mensis ejusdem, quod cœperant, impleverunt.

It was on the first day of the first month that they set about their task; on the eighth day of the same month they were still in the porch, and then they took eight days more ridding the temple itself of defilement; by the sixteenth day, their undertaking was complete.

And they went in to king Ezechias, and said to him: We have sanctified all the house of the Lord, and the altar of holocaust, and the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition with all its vessels,

Ingressi quoque sunt ad Ezechiam regem, et dixerunt ei: Sanctificavimus omnem domum Domini, et altare holocausti, vasaque ejus, necnon et mensam propositionis cum omnibus vasis suis,

And now they craved audience with king Ezechias; We have cleansed the Lord’s house, they told him, and the altar of burnt-sacrifice, with all that belongs to it, the table of hallowed loaves, and all that belongs to the table.

And all the furniture of the temple, which king Achaz in his reign had defiled, after his transgression; and behold they are all set forth before the altar of the Lord.

cunctamque templi supellectilem, quam polluerat rex Achaz in regno suo, postquam prævaricatus est: et ecce exposita sunt omnia coram altare Domini.

We have cleansed all the temple furniture that was profaned in the time of king Achaz, when he fell a-sinning; all this thou wilt find laid out before the Lord’s altar.

And king Ezechias rising early, assembled all the rulers of the city, and went up into the house of the Lord:

Consurgensque diluculo Ezechias rex, adunavit omnes principes civitatis, et ascendit in domum Domini:

Next day, Ezechias was abroad early, with all the chief men of the city gathered about him, to make his way into the house of the Lord.

And they offered together seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats for sin, for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, for Juda: and he spoke to the priests the sons of Aaron, to offer them upon the altar of the Lord.

obtuleruntque simul tauros septem, et arietes septem, agnos septem, et hircos septem pro peccato, pro regno, pro sanctuario, pro Juda: dixitque sacerdotibus filiis Aaron, ut offerrent super altare Domini.

Seven bulls they offered, seven rams, seven lambs; seven goats, too, as an offering for fault; all this on behalf of the royal house, of the priestly line, and of Juda. And the king bade the priests, Aaron’s sons, offer the victims at the Lord’s altar.

Therefore they killed the bullocks, and the priests took the blood, and poured it upon the altar; they killed also the rams, and their blood they poured also upon the altar, and they killed the lambs, and poured the blood upon the altar.

Mactaverunt igitur tauros, et susceperunt sanguinem sacerdotes, et fuderunt illum super altare: mactaverunt etiam arietes, et illorum sanguinem super altare fuderunt, immolaveruntque agnos, et fuderunt super altare sanguinem.

So bulls and rams and lambs were slaughtered, and the altar received their blood;

And they brought the he goats for sin before the king, and the whole multitude, and they laid their hand upon them:

Applicuerunt hircos pro peccato coram rege, et universa multitudine, imposueruntque manus suas super eos:

the goats were brought out into the presence of king and people, who laid their hands on them,

And the priests immolated them, and sprinkled their blood before the altar for an expiation of all Israel: for the king had commanded that the holocaust and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

et immolaverunt illos sacerdotes, et asperserunt sanguinem eorum coram altare pro piaculo universi Israëlis: pro omni quippe Israël præceperat rex ut holocaustum fieret, et pro peccato.

and then the priests slaughtered them, and poured out their blood at the altar to expiate Israel’s common guilt; the king’s command was that burnt-sacrifice and offering for fault should both be offered on behalf of the whole people.

And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, and psalteries, and harps according to the regulation of David the king, and of Gad the seer, and of Nathan the prophet: for it was the commandment of the Lord by the hand of his prophets.

Constituit quoque Levitas in domo Domini cum cymbalis, et psalteriis, et citharis secundum dispositionem David regis, et Gad videntis, et Nathan prophetæ: siquidem Domini præceptum fuit per manum prophetarum ejus.

He had bidden the Levites take their stations, there in the Lord’s house, with cymbals, harp, and zither, as David enjoined; as Gad, the man of visions, and the prophet Nathan enjoined, for it was through these prophets of his that David had learned the Lord’s will.

And the Levites stood, with the instruments of David, and the priests with trumpets.

Steteruntque Levitæ tenentes organa David, et sacerdotes tubas.

There stood the Levites, with instruments of David’s own, and the priests with their trumpets;

And Ezechias commanded that they should offer holocausts upon the altar: and when the holocausts were offered, they began to sing praises to the Lord, and to sound with trumpets, and divers instruments which David the king of Israel had prepared.

Et jussit Ezechias ut offerrent holocausta super altare: cumque offerrentur holocausta, cœperunt laudes canere Domino, et clangere tubis, atque in diversis organis quæ David rex Israël præparaverat, concrepare.

and when Ezechias gave the word, and the burnt-sacrifice began, loud echoed their praises to the Lord, loud the trumpets blew, loud rang the music planned by David, king of Israel, long ago.

And all the multitude adored, and the singers, and the trumpeters, were in their office till the holocaust was finished.

Omni autem turba adorante, cantores, et ii qui tenebant tubas, erant in officio suo donec compleretur holocaustum.

Still must singer and trumpeter be at their task among the throng of worshippers, till all the sacrifice was consumed;

And when the oblation was ended, the king, and all that were with him bowed down and adored.

Cumque finita esset oblatio, incurvatus est rex, et omnes qui erant cum eo, et adoraverunt.

and when this was over, while the king and all his company bowed down to adore,

And Ezechias and the princes commanded the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David, and Asaph the seer: and they praised him with great joy, and bowing the knee adored.

Præcepitque Ezechias et principes Levitis, ut laudarent Dominum sermonibus David, et Asaph videntis: qui laudaverunt eum magna lætitia, et incurvato genu adoraverunt.

these Levites were bidden by the king and his nobles to praise the Lord with psalms of David, and of Asaph, the man of visions. Praise him they did with hearts full of joy, and they too bowed down to worship.

And Ezechias added, and said: You have filled your hands to the Lord, come and offer victims, and praises in the house of the Lord. And all the multitude offered victims, and praises, and holocausts with a devout mind.

Ezechias autem etiam hæc addidit: Implestis manus vestras Domino: accedite, et offerte victimas et laudes in domo Domini. Obtulit ergo universa multitudo hostias, et laudes, et holocausta, mente devota.

It was not enough; Here, said Ezechias, are hands consecrated to the Lord afresh; come forward, and present victim and thank-offering in the Lord’s house. Thereupon the whole multitude brought victims and thank-offerings, and some, in their devotion, whole burnt-sacrifice.

And the number of the holocausts which the multitude offered, was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs.

Porro numerus holocaustorum quæ obtulit multitudo, hic fuit: tauros septuaginta, arietes centum, agnos ducentos.

In burnt-sacrifice they offered seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs,

And they consecrated to the Lord six hundred oxen, and three thousand sheep.

Sanctificaveruntque Domino boves sexcentos, et oves tria millia.

and consecrated to the Lord six hundred cattle and three thousand sheep.

But the priests were few, and were not enough to flay the holocausts: wherefore the Levites their brethren helped them, till the work was ended, and priests were sanctified, for the Levites are sanctified with an easier rite than the priests.

Sacerdotes vero pauci erant, nec poterant sufficere ut pelles holocaustorum detraherent: unde et Levitæ fratres eorum adjuverunt eos, donec impleretur opus, et sanctificarentur antistites: Levitæ quippe faciliori ritu sanctificantur quam sacerdotes.

The priests were too few in number to flay so many burnt-offerings at once, and the Levites must needs help them to finish their task, till such time as more priests should have rid themselves of defilement; such cleansing is an easier matter for Levite than for priest.

So there were many holocausts, and the fat of peace offerings, and the libations of holocausts: and the service of the house of the Lord was completed.

Fuerunt ergo holocausta plurima, adipes pacificorum, et libamina holocaustorum: et completus est cultus domus Domini.

So much work there was to do with all the burnt-sacrifice that must be performed; the fat, too, of the welcome-offerings must be burned, and libations poured over the sacrifices.

And Ezechias, and all the people rejoiced because the ministry of the Lord was accomplished. For the resolution of doing this thing was taken suddenly.

Lætatusque est Ezechias et omnis populus, eo quod ministerium Domini esset expletum: de repente quippe hoc fieri placuerat.

Thus was the worship of the Lord’s house restored in full. Greatly did Ezechias and all the people rejoice over their duty well done, for all that the resolve was taken so suddenly.