Octo annorum erat Josias cum regnare cœpisset, et triginta et uno anno regnavit in Jerusalem.

Josias was eight years old when he came to the throne, and his reign at Jerusalem lasted thirty-one years;

Josias was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem.

Fecitque quod erat rectum in conspectu Domini, et ambulavit in viis David patris sui: non declinavit neque ad dextram, neque ad sinistram.

he was obedient to the Lord’s will, and followed the example of his ancestor, king David, never swerving to right or left.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father: he declined not, neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

Octavo autem anno regni sui, cum adhuc esset puer, cœpit quærere Deum patris sui David: et duodecimo anno postquam regnare cœperat, mundavit Judam et Jerusalem ab excelsis, et lucis, simulacrisque et sculptilibus.

It was while he was still a boy, in the eighth year of his reign, that he betook himself to the God his father David worshipped; and in the twelfth year of his reign he rid Juda and Jerusalem of hill-shrine and forest shrine, carved image and molten image.

And in the eighth year of his reign, when he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of his father David: and in the twelfth year after he began to reign, he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the idols, and the graven things.

Destruxeruntque coram eo aras Baalim, et simulacra quæ superposita fuerant, demoliti sunt: lucos etiam et sculptilia succidit atque comminuit, et super tumulos eorum qui eis immolare consueverant, fragmenta dispersit.

All the altars of the countryside gods must be destroyed in his presence; sacred trees and statues he cut down everywhere and broke in pieces, which he scattered on the tombs of their worshippers;

And they broke down before him the altars of Baalim, and demolished the idols that had been set upon them: and he cut down the groves and the graven things, and broke them in pieces: and strewed the fragments upon the graves of them that had sacrificed to them.

Ossa præterea sacerdotum combussit in altaribus idolorum, mundavitque Judam et Jerusalem.

and on the altars that were raised to false gods he burned the bones of their own priests, till Juda and Jerusalem were defiled no more.

And he burnt the bones of the priests on the altars of the idols, and he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem.

Sed et in urbibus Manasse, et Ephraim, et Simeon, usque Nephthali, cuncta subvertit.

Then he must carry out the same work of destruction in the cities of Manasses, Ephraim and Simeon, and all the way to Nephthali;

And in the cities of Manasses, and of Ephraim, and of Simeon, even to Nephtali he demolished all.

Cumque altaria dissipasset, et lucos et sculptilia contrivisset in frustra, cunctaque delubra demolitus esset de universa terra Israël, reversus est in Jerusalem.

altars were thrown down, images crushed to pieces, and shrines demolished, all over the land of Israel; and so he returned to Jerusalem.

And when he had destroyed the altars, and the groves, and had broken the idols in pieces, and had demolished all profane temples throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

Igitur anno octavodecimo regni sui, mundata jam terra et templo Domini, misit Saphan filium Eseliæ, et Maasiam principem civitatis, et Joha filium Joachaz a commentariis, ut instaurarent domum Domini Dei sui.

Then, in the eighteenth year of his reign, the land and the temple now purged, he commissioned Saphan, son of Eselias, and Maasias that was governor of the city, and Joha son of Joachaz, that kept the records, to see that the house of the Lord their God was put in repair.

Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land, and the temple of the Lord, he sent Saphan the son of Eselias, and Maasias the governor of the city, Joha the son of Joachaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

Qui venerunt ad Helciam sacerdotem magnum: acceptamque ab eo pecuniam quæ illata fuerat in domum Domini, et quam congregaverant Levitæ, et janitores de Manasse, et Ephraim, et universis reliquiis Israël, ab omni quoque Juda, et Benjamin, et habitatoribus Jerusalem,

So they made their way to the high priest, Helcias, who handed over to them the offerings collected by Levites and door-keepers for the temple fabric; offerings from Manasses and Ephraim and all the rest of Israel, as well as Juda, Benjamin and Jerusalem.

And they came to Helcias the high priest: and received of him the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, and which the Levites and porters had gathered together from Manasses, and Ephraim, and all the remnant of Israel, and from all Juda, and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

tradiderunt in manibus eorum qui præerant operariis in domo Domini, ut instaurarent templum, et infirma quæque sarcirent.

These they paid out to the overseers of the Lord’s house, bidding them restore it and put it in repair.

Which they delivered into the hands of them that were over the workmen in the house of the Lord, to repair the temple, and mend all that was weak.

At illi dederunt eam artificibus et cæmentariis, ut emerent lapides de lapicidinis, et ligna ad commissuras ædificii, et ad contignationem domorum quas destruxerant reges Juda.

And they, in their turn, gave it to the craftsmen and masons, that must buy stone from the quarries; wood, too, for joiner’s work, and for roofing the buildings which earlier kings had left in ruins.

But they gave it to the artificers, and to the masons, to buy stones out of the quarries, and timber for the couplings of the building, and to rafter the houses, which the kings of Juda had destroyed.

Qui fideliter cuncta faciebant. Erant autem præpositi operantium Jahath et Abdias de filiis Merari, Zacharias et Mosollam de filiis Caath, qui urgebant opus: omnes Levitæ scientes organis canere.

All this was faithfully carried out; the work was hastened on by these overseers, the Merarites Jahath and Abdias, the Caathites Zacharias and Masollam, Levites all and musicians;

And they did all faithfully. Now the overseers of the workmen were Jahath and Abdias of the sons of Merari, Zacharias and Mosollam of the sons of Caath, who hastened the work: all Levites skilful to play on instruments.

Super eos vero qui ad diversos usus onera portabant, erant scribæ, et magistri de Levitis, janitores.

the workmen that did but carry burdens at need were under the command of the secretaries and the chief door-keepers.

But over them that carried burdens for divers uses, were scribes, and masters of the number of the Levites, and porters.

Cumque efferrent pecuniam quæ illata fuerat in templum Domini, reperit Helcias sacerdos librum legis Domini per manum Moysi.

It was just when they came to take away the temple offerings that Helcias found a copy of the law which the Lord gave through Moses;

Now when they carried out the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord, Helcias the priest found the book of the law of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

Et ait ad Saphan scribam: Librum legis inveni in domo Domini: et tradidit ei.

and he told Saphan, the secretary, how he had found, there in the temple, a copy of the law, which he gave him to read.

And he said to Saphan the scribe: I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord: and he delivered it to him.

At ille intulit volumen ad regem, et nuntiavit ei, dicens: Omnia quæ dedisti in manu servorum tuorum, ecce complentur.

Saphan took the book with him when he went to the king to report that the commission had been faithfully executed.

But he carried the book to the king, and told him, saying: Lo, all that thou hast committed to thy servants, is accomplished.

Argentum quod repertum est in domo Domini, conflaverunt, datumque est præfectis artificum, et diversa opera fabricantium.

They have collected all the money, said he, that was there in the temple, and paid it out through the overseers to craftsmen and to masons.

They have gathered together the silver that was found in the house of the Lord: and it is given to the overseers of the artificers, and of the workmen, for divers works.

Præterea tradidit mihi Helcias sacerdos hunc librum. Quem cum rege præsente recitasset,

And here is a book the high priest, Helcias, has given me.

Moreover Helcias the priest gave me this book. And he read it before the king.

audissetque ille verba legis, scidit vestimenta sua:

This book, then, Saphan read out in the royal presence; and the king, upon hearing the terms of the law, rent his garments about him.

And when he had heard the words of the law, he rent his garments:

et præcepit Helciæ, et Ahicam filio Saphan, et Abdon filio Micha, Saphan quoque scribæ, et Asaæ servo regis, dicens:

Then he gave orders to Helcias, and Ahicam son of Saphan, and Abdon son of Micha, and Asaas, one of his courtiers;

And he commanded Helcias, and Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Abdon the son of Micha, and Saphan the scribe, and Asaa the king’s servant, saying:

Ite, et orate Dominum pro me, et pro reliquiis Israël et Juda, super universis sermonibus libri istius, qui repertus est: magnus enim furor Domini stillavit super nos, eo quod non custodierint patres nostri verba Domini ut facerent omnia quæ scripta sunt in isto volumine.

Go and consult the Lord, he told them, for me and all that is left of Israel and Juda, about this new-found copy of the law. What wonder if the Lord should rain down vengeance on us, a race that has left his warnings unheeded, his bidding undone?

Go, and pray to the Lord for me, and for the remnant of Israel, and Juda, concerning all the words of this book, which is found: for the great wrath of the Lord hath fallen upon us, because our fathers have not kept the words of the Lord, to do all things that are written in this book.

Abiit ergo Helcias, et hi qui simul a rege missi fuerant, ad Oldam prophetidem, uxorem Sellum filii Thecuath filii Hasra custodis vestium, quæ habitabat in Jerusalem in Secunda: et locuti sunt ei verba quæ supra narravimus.

So Helcias and his companions went on the king’s errand to the prophetess Olda. She was wife to Sellum, son of Thecuath, son of Hasra, that once kept the royal wardrobe; her dwelling was at Jerusalem, in the new part of the city. So they told her their business,

And Helcias and they that were sent with him by the king, went to Olda the prophetess, the wife of Sellum the son of Thecuath, the son of Hasra keeper of the wardrobe: who dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second part: and they spoke to her the words above mentioned.

At illa respondit eis: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israël: Dicite viro qui misit vos ad me:

and she, in return, gave them this message from the Lord God of Israel for the man that sent them;

And she answered them: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you to me:

Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego inducam mala super locum istum et super habitatores ejus, cunctaque maledicta quæ scripta sunt in libro hoc, quem legerunt coram rege Juda.

Thus says the Lord, For this city and its citizens I have punishments in store, all the punishments threatened in yonder book which has been read out to the king of Juda.

Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring evils upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, and all the curses that are written in this book which they read before the king of Juda.

Quia dereliquerunt me, et sacrificaverunt diis alienis, ut me ad iracundiam provocarent in cunctis operibus manuum suarum, idcirco stillabit furor meus super locum istum, et non extinguetur.

The men of Juda have forsaken me, and offered sacrifice to alien gods; all they do is done in defiance of me; the fire of my vengeance must needs rain down on this city, and there is no quenching it.

Because they have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange gods, to provoke me to wrath with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath shall fall upon this place, and shall not be quenched.

Ad regem autem Juda, qui misit vos pro Domino deprecando, sic loquimini: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israël: Quoniam audisti verba voluminis,

But to the king of Juda, who sent you here to consult the Lord, give this message from the Lord God of Israel: Well for thee thou didst listen to the warnings this book gave thee!

But as to the king of Juda that sent you to beseech the Lord, thus shall you say to him: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Because thou hast heard the words of this book,

atque emollitum est cor tuum, et humiliatus es in conspectu Dei super his quæ dicta sunt contra locum hunc et habitatores Jerusalem, reveritusque faciem meam scidisti vestimenta tua, et flevisti coram me: ego quoque exaudivi te, dicit Dominus.

Well for thee that thy heart failed thee, and thou didst humble thyself before God, at hearing him threaten city and citizens with doom; that thou didst make amends, by tearing thy garments about thee, and hadst recourse to me with tears.

And thy heart was softened, and thou hast humbled thyself in the sight of God for the things that are spoken against this place, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and reverencing my face, hast rent thy garments, and wept before me: I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.

Jam enim colligam te ad patres tuos, et infereris in sepulchrum tuum in pace: nec videbunt oculi tui omne malum quod ego inducturus sum super locum istum, et super habitatores ejus. Retulerunt itaque regi cuncta quæ dixerat.

And thou hast won my audience, the Lord says; I will lay thee to rest with thy fathers, in quiet times thou shalt go to thy grave. Not for thy eyes the great calamities I mean to bring on city and citizens of thine.

For now I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be brought to thy tomb in peace: and thy eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and the inhabitants thereof. They therefore reported to the king all that she had said.

At ille convocatis universis majoribus natu Juda et Jerusalem,

When they brought the king his answer, he summoned all the elders of Juda and Jerusalem;

And he called together all the ancients of Juda and Jerusalem.

ascendit in domum Domini, unaque omnes viri Juda et habitatores Jerusalem, sacerdotes et Levitæ, et cunctus populus a minimo usque ad maximum. Quibus audientibus in domo Domini, legit rex omnia verba voluminis:

then he went up to the Lord’s temple, and all the men of Juda bore him company, all the citizens of Jerusalem, priest and Levite and common folk high and low. There, in their hearing, he read the whole book out to them.

And went up to the house of the Lord, and all the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, and all the people from the least to the greatest. And the king read in their hearing, in the house of the Lord, all the words of the book.

et stans in tribunali suo, percussit fœdus coram Domino ut ambularet post eum, et custodiret præcepta, et testimonia, et justificationes ejus in toto corde suo, et in tota anima sua, faceretque quæ scripta sunt in volumine illo, quod legerat.

Standing on the dais, he made a promise, there in the Lord’s presence; they would make the Lord their leader, holding fast by command and decree and observance of his, heart and soul, obeying all the terms of the law they had listened to.

And standing up in his tribunal, he made a covenant before the Lord to walk after him, and keep his commandments, and testimonies, and justifications with all his heart, and with all his soul, and to do the things that were written in that book which he had read.

Adjuravit quoque super hoc omnes qui reperti fuerant in Jerusalem et Benjamin: et fecerunt habitatores Jerusalem juxta pactum Domini Dei patrum suorum.

And he bound them by an oath, all the men of Jerusalem and of Benjamin. This pact with the Lord God of their fathers was kept loyally.

And he adjured all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to do the same: and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of the Lord the God of their fathers.

Abstulit ergo Josias cunctas abominationes de universis regionibus filiorum Israël: et fecit omnes qui residui erant in Israël, servire Domino Deo suo. Cunctis diebus ejus non recesserunt a Domino Deo patrum suorum.

So Josias swept away from the whole realm of Israel all detestable worship, and made the remnant that were left in Israel obey the Lord their God. Never again did they forsake the Lord, their fathers’ God, while Josias’ life lasted.

And Josias took away all the abominations out of all the countries of the children of Israel: and made all that were left in Israel, to serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived they departed not from the Lord the God of their fathers.