 1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign. And he reigned 31 years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. 2 He did the right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3 In the eighteenth year of Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of the Lord saying, 4 Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he may count the silver that is brought into the house of the Lord that the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 Let them deliver it to the workers who have oversight in the house of the Lord. Let them give it to the workers who are in the house of the Lord to repair the breaks of the house. 6 To carpenters and builders and masons and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the house. 7 There was no reckoning made with them for the money that was delivered to them because they dealt faithfully. 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought the king word again and said, Your servants have gathered the silver that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workers, who have the oversight of the house of the Lord. 10 Shaphan the scribe showed the king saying, Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 When the king had heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king saying, 13 Go inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us. 14 Hilkiah the priest and Ahikam and Achbor and Shaphan and Asahiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the second part and they talked with her. 15 She said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil on this place and on the people of it, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods so that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so you shall say to him, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, The words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was tender and you have humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its people that they should become a waste and a curse, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I have heard you, says the Lord. 20 Behold, even so I will gather you to your fathers and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the evil that I will bring on this place. Then they brought this word to the king.
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