ISV(i)
3 Hezekiah’s Temple Restoration Project
In the first month of the first year of his reign he repaired and reopened the doors of the LORD’s Temple.
4 Then he brought in the priests and descendants of Levi, gathered them into the square in the eastern part of the Temple,
5 and told them, “Pay attention to me, you descendants of Levi! Consecrate yourselves and the Temple of the LORD God of your ancestors by taking out from the Holy Place whatever is unclean.
6 Our ancestors have been unfaithful. They practiced what the LORD considers to be evil, abandoned him, turned their faces away from the place where the LORD resides, and turned their backs to him.
7 They shut the doors to the vestibule of the Temple, extinguished its lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel in the Holy Place.
8 That’s why the LORD was angry with Judah and Jerusalem and made them an object of terror, horror, and derision, as you’ve seen with your own eyes.
9 Now look! Our ancestors have been killed with swords and our sons, daughters, and wives are being held captive because of all of this.
10 I’m intending to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel so his burning anger may turn away from us.
11 Please don’t be careless, you descendants of Aaron, because the LORD has chosen you to minister in his presence, to serve him, to be his ministers, and to burn incense.”