1
Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
2
And he did evil before the Lord, according to all the abominations of the nations, which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel:
3
And he turned, and built again the high places which Ezechias his father had destroyed: and he built altars to Baalim, and made groves, and he adored all the host of heaven, and worshipped them.
4
He built also altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said: In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5
And he built them for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6
And he made his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of Benennom: he observed dreams, followed divinations, gave himself up to magic arts, had with him magicians, and enchanters: and he wrought many evils before the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
7
He set also a graven, and a molten statue in the house of God, of which God had said to David, and to Solomon his son: In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.
8
And I will not make the foot of Israel to be removed out of the land which I have delivered to their fathers: yet so if they will take heed to do what I have commanded them, and all the law, and the ceremonies, and judgments by the hand of Moses.
9
So Manasses seduced Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to do evil beyond all the nations, which the Lord had destroyed before the face of the children of Israel.
10
And the Lord spoke to his people, and they would not hearken.