OET-RV 2 CHR Chapter 19

19 Yehudah’s king Yehoshafat returned safely to his home in Yerushalem, 2 but Hanani’s son, the prophet Yehu, confronted him, “Should you have helped the wicked, and befriended those that Yahweh hates? Yahweh’s angry with you because of what you’ve done. 3 However, you have some good points, because you removed the Asherah poles from the country, and you’ve been sincere in wanting to follow God.”

4 Yehoshafat lived in Yerushalem, but one time he went out to the people of Beer-Sheva in the Efrayim hill country and encouraged them back to Yahweh, their ancestors’ god. 5 He appointed judges in Yehudah’s fortified cities to serve across the country, 6 and he told them, “Take care in what you do, because as judges, you’re not serving people, but serving Yahweh when you make judicial decisions. 7 So revere Yahweh and judge cases carefully, because our god Yahweh doesn’t tolerate injustice, partiality, or bribery.”

8 Yehoshafat also appointed some Levites and priests in Yerushalem, as well as leaders from some Israeli families, to be judges on Yahweh’s behalf based in Yerushalem, 9 and he instructed them, “You must revere Yahweh and be trustworthy and sincere. 10 When any of your fellow Israelis who live in the cities bring any case to you involving violent crime, or interpreting laws or regulations, and so on, you must caution them so they won’t sin against Yahweh and induce his anger to come against you or them, so do that, and you won’t be guilty. 11 And listen, the chief priest Amaryah is superior to you judges in any religious matter, and Yishmael’s son Zevady is Yehudah’s leader for any civil matter concerning the king. Also, you have the Levite officials to assist you judges. Act with courage, and let Yahweh assist people who are doing what’s right.”