2 Kings 22 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath.

He did what was right in Yahweh's eyes and followed exactly in the footsteps of his ancestor David. He never strayed to the right or to the left.

In the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the royal secretary, to the house of Yahweh with these instructions:

"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count up all the silver that has been brought into the house of Yahweh -- the money the doorkeepers have collected from the people.

Have them hand it over to the workers supervising the repairs on the house of Yahweh. They should pay the workers who are fixing up the house of Yahweh --

the carpenters, the builders, and the masons -- and use it to buy timber and cut stone for repairing the house.

But don't require them to account for the money handed over to them -- they can be trusted."

Then Hilkiah the high priest told Shaphan the royal secretary, "I've found the Book of the Law in the house of Yahweh!" And Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, who read it.

Then Shaphan the royal secretary went to the king and reported, "Your servants have emptied out the silver that was found in the house and handed it over to the workers supervising the repairs on the house of Yahweh."

Then Shaphan the royal secretary told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll." And Shaphan read it aloud to the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.

Then the king gave orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal attendant:

"Go, seek Yahweh's guidance on behalf of me, the people, and all of Judah about the words of this scroll that has been found. Yahweh's fury must be blazing against us because our ancestors didn't listen to the words of this scroll or do everything it says we should."

So Hilkiah the priest, along with Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah the prophetess. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, the keeper of the royal wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District. They spoke with her there.

She told them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,

'This is what Yahweh says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its people -- everything written in the scroll that the king of Judah has read.

Because they have abandoned me and burned offerings to other gods, provoking me with everything their hands have made, my fury will blaze against this place and will not be put out.'

"But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to seek Yahweh's guidance -- this is what you should tell him: This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says about the words you heard:

'Because your heart was soft and you humbled yourself before Yahweh when you heard what I said against this place and its people -- that they would become a horror and a curse -- and because you tore your clothes and wept in my presence, I have heard you,' declares Yahweh.

'So I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'" They brought her answer back to the king.