Wednesday 28 June 2006

8Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe,“I have found the book of the law in the Lord’s house.”Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.9Shaphan the scribe came to the king,and brought the king word again,and said, “Your servants have emptied out the moneythat was found in the house,and have delivered it into the hands of the workmenwho have the oversight of the Lord’s house.”10Shaphan the scribe told the king,saying, “Hilkiah the priest has delivered a book to me.”Then Shaphan read it before the king.

11When the king had heard the words of the book of the law,he tore his clothes.12The king commanded Hilkiah the priest,Ahikam the son of Shaphan,Achbor the son of Micaiah,Shaphan the scribe,and Asaiah the king’s servant, 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 Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us,because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book,to do according to all thatwhich is written concerning us.”

· · · some verses are not read1The king sent,and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.2The king went up to the Lord’s house,and all the men of Judahand all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him—with the priests, the prophets,and all the people,both small and great;and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenantwhich was found in the Lord’s house.3The king stood by the pillarand made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lordand to keep his commandments,his testimonies,and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul,to confirm the words of this covenantthat were written in this book;and all the people agreed to the covenant.

33Teach me, Lord, the way of your statutes.I will keep them to the end.34Give me understanding, and I will keep your law.Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.

35Direct me in the path of your commandments,for I delight in them.36Turn my heart toward your statutes,not toward selfish gain.

37Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.Revive me in your ways.40Behold, I long for your precepts!Revive me in your righteousness.

15“Beware of false prophets,who come to you in sheep’s clothing,but inwardly are ravening wolves.16By their fruits you will know them.Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit,but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit,neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut downand thrown into the fire.20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.