King Josiah of Judah^(A)

22 ^(B)Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-one years. His mother was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah from the town of Bozkath.

¹¹ We mourn for the dead because they have no access to light. We ought to mourn for fools, because they have no access to intelligence. In fact, we should go into deeper mourning for fools, because the life they lead is worse than death. The dead are at least at rest. ^12 (A)For seven days we mourn the dead, but a foolish or ungodly person causes a lifetime of grief.

¹³ Don't visit stupid people or spend a lot of time talking with them. Avoid them; then they can't contaminate you, and you can live in peace without being troubled or worn down by their foolishness.

³ Then I would not keep on sinning, making one mistake after another. I could not fall to my enemies and be humiliated by them.

^24-25 The children will suffer for her sin. They will not be able to find a place in society or establish families. She herself will be brought before the assembly