As stated in the comments on the previous verse, the structure of the text should probably be simplified here. Two main actions on the part of Josiah are indicated: he was penitent (Good News Translation “repented”) and humbled himself. The actions of tearing his clothes and weeping which come toward the end of the verse are merely outward, visible signs of his repentance. For this reason it is justifiable to place that material with the verb “repent.” Some may say “you were sorry and you showed your sorrow by tearing your clothes and crying….”
Your heart was penitent may be rendered “you were penitent” or “you felt sorry in your heart.” In other contexts in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated was penitent is sometimes translated “was tender” or “was soft” (see Psa 55.22; Isa 1.6). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “your heart was softened.”
Before the LORD: This will be more naturally rendered “before me” (Good News Translation, New Century Version) since Yahweh is speaking directly to Josiah here.
When you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants: The event that brought about Josiah’s repentance was his hearing what God would do to the country of Judah. In some languages this information may be given in a separate sentence at the beginning of the verse by saying “You heard how I threatened to punish the country of Judah and its inhabitants. Therefore you repented and humbled yourself before me, tearing your clothes and weeping.”
As in verses 16 and 17, this place refers either to the city of Jerusalem or, more likely, to the whole country of Judah. In many languages it will be helpful to make this explicit in translation.
That they should become a desolation and a curse: The nouns desolation and curse are used here as a shorthand way of saying “Indeed, I will make an awful spectacle of Judah. It will become a place whose name people will use as a curse.”
You have rent your clothes: See verse 11.
I also have heard you is literally “I also have heard.” Revised Standard Version supplies the pronoun you since the context requires it. The pronoun I is emphatic in Hebrew and the word also is used specifically to make the reader think of the fact that as King Josiah had heard the word of the LORD (verse 18 “you have heard”), so the LORD had also heard the king’s prayer. Good News Translation fails to translate the word also, but failure to do so slightly changes the meaning of the Hebrew.
Says the LORD: Good News Translation does not translate these words. Since this quotation of the LORD is introduced with the formula Thus says the LORD in the middle of the previous verse, it may be considered redundant in some languages to conclude with says the LORD. Naturalness in the receptor language should be the determining factor in deciding whether or not this repetition is desirable.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .