1. Menasheh was 12 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 55 years in Yerushalayim,
2. But did that which was rah in the eyes of Hashem, like unto the to'avot HaGoyim, whom Hashem had driven out before the Bnei Yisroel.
3. For he rebuilt the high places which Chizkiyahu Aviv had demolished, erected mizbechot for Ba'alim, and made Asherot, and worshiped all the tzva HaShomayim, and served them.
4. Also he built mizbechot in the Beis Hashem, whereof Hashem had said, In Yerushalayim shall Shmi be forever.
5. And he built mizbechot for all the tzva HaShomayim in the two khatzerot (courtyards) of the Beis Hashem.
6. And he caused his banot to pass through the eish in the Gey Ben Hinnom; also he practiced astrology, fortunetelling, and witchcraft, and necromancy and consulted mediums and spiritists; he wrought rah in the eyes of Hashem, to provoke Him to anger.
7. And he set a pesel hasemel which he had made in the Beis HaElohim, of which Elohim had said to Dovid and to Sh'lomo bno, In this Beis, and in Yerushalayim, which I have chosen before all the Shivtei Yisroel, will I put Shmi forever;
8. Neither will I anymore remove the regel Yisroel from HaAretz which I have appointed for Avoteichem; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to kol HaTorah and the Chukkim and the Mishpatim by the yad Moshe.
9. So Menasheh made Yehudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim to be led astray, and to do rah more than the Goyim, whom Hashem had destroyed before the Bnei Yisroel.
10. And Hashem spoke to Menasheh, and to his people, but they would not pay heed.
11. Therefore Hashem brought upon them the sarei hatzavah of Melech Ashur (Assyria), which captured Menasheh with a hunter's hooks, and bound him with bronze shackles, and hauled him off to Babylon.
12. And when he was in distress, he besought Hashem Elohav, and humbled himself greatly before Elohei Avotav,