2Kgs.18.1

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz began his rule over Judah.

2Kgs.18.1

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

2Kgs.18.1

Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.

2Kgs.18.1

Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel.

2Kgs.18.2

He was twenty-five years old when he became king and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

2Kgs.18.2

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

2Kgs.18.2

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

2Kgs.18.2

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

2Kgs.18.3

In GOD's opinion he was a good king; he kept to the standards of his ancestor David.

2Kgs.18.3

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done.

2Kgs.18.3

And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

2Kgs.18.3

He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

2Kgs.18.4

He got rid of the local fertility shrines, smashed the phallic stone monuments, and cut down the sex-and-religion Asherah groves. As a final stroke he pulverized the ancient bronze serpent that Moses had made; at that time the Israelites had taken up the practice of sacrificing to it--they had even dignified it with a name, Nehushtan (The Old Serpent).

2Kgs.18.4

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan. )

2Kgs.18.4

He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.

2Kgs.18.4

He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and knocked down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had begun to worship it by burning incense to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.

2Kgs.18.5

Hezekiah put his whole trust in the GOD of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either before or after.

2Kgs.18.5

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.

2Kgs.18.5

He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.

2Kgs.18.5

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was never another king like him in the land of Judah, either before or after his time.

2Kgs.18.6

He held fast to GOD-never loosened his grip--and obeyed to the letter everything GOD had commanded Moses.

2Kgs.18.6

He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses.

2Kgs.18.6

For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.

2Kgs.18.6

He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses.

2Kgs.18.7

And GOD, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures. He revolted against the king of Assyria; he refused to serve him one more day.

2Kgs.18.7

And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

2Kgs.18.7

The LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

2Kgs.18.7

So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.

2Kgs.18.8

And he drove back the Philistines, whether in sentry outposts or fortress cities, all the way to Gaza and its borders.

2Kgs.18.8

From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

2Kgs.18.8

He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

2Kgs.18.8

He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.

2Kgs.18.9

In the fourth year of Hezekiah and the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked Samaria. He threw a siege around it

2Kgs.18.9

In King Hezekiah's fourth year, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it.

2Kgs.18.9

Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it.

2Kgs.18.9

During the fourth year of Hezekiah's reign, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked Israel and began a siege on the city of Samaria.

2Kgs.18.10

and after three years captured it. It was in the sixth year of Hezekiah and the ninth year of Hoshea that Samaria fell to Assyria.

2Kgs.18.10

At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah's sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel.

2Kgs.18.10

And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

2Kgs.18.10

Three years later, during the sixth year of King Hezekiah's reign and the ninth year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel, Samaria fell.

2Kgs.18.11

The king of Assyria took Israel into exile and relocated them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River, and in towns of the Medes.

2Kgs.18.11

The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.

2Kgs.18.11

Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,

2Kgs.18.11

At that time the king of Assyria deported the Israelites to Assyria and put them in colonies in Halah, along the banks of the Habor River in Gozan, and among the cities of the Medes.

2Kgs.18.12

All this happened because they wouldn't listen to the voice of their GOD and treated his covenant with careless contempt. They refused either to listen or do a word of what Moses, the servant of GOD, commanded.

2Kgs.18.12

This happened because they had not obeyed the LORD their God, but had violated his covenant-all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out.

2Kgs.18.12

because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them.

2Kgs.18.12

For they had refused to listen to the LORD their God. Instead, they had violated his covenant--all the laws the LORD had given through his servant Moses.

2Kgs.18.13

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the outlying fortress cities of Judah and captured them.

2Kgs.18.13

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.

2Kgs.18.13

And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.

2Kgs.18.13

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them.

2Kgs.18.14

King Hezekiah sent a message to the king of Assyria at his headquarters in Lachish: "I've done wrong; I admit it. Pull back your army; I'll pay whatever tribute you set." The king of Assyria demanded tribute from Hezekiah king of Judah--eleven tons of silver and a ton of gold.

2Kgs.18.14

So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me." The king of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

2Kgs.18.14

Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, "I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay." And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.

2Kgs.18.14

King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: "I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only go away." The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than eleven tons of silver and about one ton of gold.

2Kgs.18.15

Hezekiah turned over all the silver he could find in The Temple of GOD and in the palace treasuries.

2Kgs.18.15

So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

2Kgs.18.15

So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house.

2Kgs.18.15

To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple of the LORD and in the palace treasury.

2Kgs.18.16

Hezekiah even took down the doors of The Temple of GOD and the doorposts that he had overlaid with gold and gave them to the king of Assyria.

2Kgs.18.16

At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

2Kgs.18.16

At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

2Kgs.18.16

Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the LORD's Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king.

2Kgs.18.17

So the king of Assyria sent his top three military chiefs (the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh) from Lachish with a strong military force to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool on the road to the laundry commons.

2Kgs.18.17

The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field.

2Kgs.18.17

Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, which was on the highway to the Fuller's Field.

2Kgs.18.17

Nevertheless the king of Assyria sent his commander in chief, his field commander, and his personal representative from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians stopped beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is bleached.

2Kgs.18.18

They called loudly for the king. Eliakim son of Hilkiah who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the royal secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the court historian went out to meet them.

2Kgs.18.18

They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

2Kgs.18.18

And when they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.

2Kgs.18.18

They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian.

2Kgs.18.19

The third officer, the Rabshakeh, was spokesman. He said, "Tell Hezekiah: A message from The Great King, the king of Assyria: You're living in a world of make-believe, of pious fantasy.

2Kgs.18.19

The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah: "'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?

2Kgs.18.19

Then the Rabshakeh said to them, "Say now to Hezekiah, "Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: "What confidence is this in which you trust?

2Kgs.18.19

Then the Assyrian king's personal representative sent this message to King Hezekiah: "This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

2Kgs.18.20

Do you think that mere words are any substitute for military strategy and troops? Now that you've revolted against me, who can you expect to help you?

2Kgs.18.20

You say you have strategy and military strength-but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

2Kgs.18.20

You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

2Kgs.18.20

Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Which of your allies will give you any military backing against Assyria?

2Kgs.18.21

You thought Egypt would, but Egypt's nothing but a paper tiger--one puff of wind and she collapses; Pharaoh king of Egypt is nothing but bluff and bluster.

2Kgs.18.21

Look now, you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces a man's hand and wounds him if he leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him.

2Kgs.18.21

Now look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

2Kgs.18.21

Will Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, you will find it to be a stick that breaks beneath your weight and pierces your hand. The pharaoh of Egypt is completely unreliable!

2Kgs.18.22

Or are you going to tell me, "We rely on GOD'? But Hezekiah has just eliminated most of the people's access to God by getting rid of all the local God-shrines, ordering everyone in Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship at the Jerusalem altar only.'

2Kgs.18.22

And if you say to me, "We are depending on the LORD our God"-isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem"?

2Kgs.18.22

But if you say to me, "We trust in the LORD our God,' is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, "You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem'?"'

2Kgs.18.22

"But perhaps you will say, `We are trusting in the LORD our God!' But isn't he the one who was insulted by King Hezekiah? Didn't Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?

2Kgs.18.23

"So be reasonable. Make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I'll give you two thousand horses if you think you can provide riders for them.

2Kgs.18.23

"'Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses-if you can put riders on them!

2Kgs.18.23

Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses--if you are able on your part to put riders on them!

2Kgs.18.23

"I'll tell you what! My master, the king of Assyria, will strike a bargain with you. If you can find two thousand horsemen in your entire army, he will give you two thousand horses for them to ride on!

2Kgs.18.24

You can't do it? Well, then, how do you think you're going to turn back even one raw buck private from my master's troops? How long are you going to hold on to that figment of your imagination, these hoped-for Egyptian chariots and horses?

2Kgs.18.24

How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

2Kgs.18.24

How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

2Kgs.18.24

With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master's troops, even with the help of Egypt's chariots and horsemen?

2Kgs.18.25

"Do you think I've come up here to destroy this country without the express approval of GOD? The fact is that GOD expressly ordered me, "Attack and destroy this country!'"

2Kgs.18.25

Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the LORD? The LORD himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.'"

2Kgs.18.25

Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, "Go up against this land, and destroy it."'

2Kgs.18.25

What's more, do you think we have invaded your land without the LORD's direction? The LORD himself told us, `Go and destroy it!'"

2Kgs.18.26

Eliakim son of Hilkiah and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please, speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand Aramaic. Don't speak in Hebrew--everyone crowded on the city wall can hear you."

2Kgs.18.26

Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall."

2Kgs.18.26

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."

2Kgs.18.26

Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the king's representative, "Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don't speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear."

2Kgs.18.27

But the Rabshakeh said, "We weren't sent with a private message to your master and you; this is public--a message to everyone within earshot. After all, they're involved in this as well as you; if you don't come to terms, they'll be eating their own turds and drinking their own pee right along with you."

2Kgs.18.27

But the commander replied, "Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the men sitting on the wall-who, like you, will have to eat their own filth and drink their own urine?"

2Kgs.18.27

But the Rabshakeh said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?"

2Kgs.18.27

But Sennacherib's representative replied, "My master wants everyone in Jerusalem to hear this, not just you. He wants them to know that if you do not surrender, this city will be put under siege. The people will become so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine."

2Kgs.18.28

Then he stepped forward and spoke in Hebrew loud enough for everyone to hear, "Listen carefully to the words of The Great King, the king of Assyria:

2Kgs.18.28

Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew: "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

2Kgs.18.28

Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!

2Kgs.18.28

Then he stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, "Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria!

2Kgs.18.29

Don't let Hezekiah fool you; he can't save you.

2Kgs.18.29

This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand.

2Kgs.18.29

Thus says the king: "Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand;

2Kgs.18.29

This is what the king says: Don't let King Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you from my power.

2Kgs.18.30

And don't let Hezekiah give you that line about trusting in GOD, telling you, "GOD will save us--this city will never be abandoned to the king of Assyria.'

2Kgs.18.30

Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, 'The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'

2Kgs.18.30

nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, "The LORD will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."'

2Kgs.18.30

Don't let him fool you into trusting in the LORD by saying, `The LORD will rescue us! This city will never be handed over to the Assyrian king.'

2Kgs.18.31

Don't listen to Hezekiah--he doesn't know what he's talking about. Listen to the king of Assyria--deal with me and live the good life; I'll guarantee everyone your own plot of ground--a garden and a well!

2Kgs.18.31

"Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern,

2Kgs.18.31

Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: "Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern;

2Kgs.18.31

"Don't listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me--open the gates and come out. Then I will allow each of you to continue eating from your own garden and drinking from your own well.

2Kgs.18.32

I'll take you to a land sweeter by far than this one, a land of grain and wine, bread and vineyards, olive orchards and honey. You only live once--so live, really live! "No. Don't listen to Hezekiah. Don't listen to his lies, telling you "GOD will save us.'

2Kgs.18.32

until I come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death! "Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, 'The LORD will deliver us.'

2Kgs.18.32

until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey, that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he persuade you, saying, "The LORD will deliver us."

2Kgs.18.32

Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one--a country with bountiful harvests of grain and wine, bread and vineyards, olive trees and honey--a land of plenty. Choose life instead of death! "Don't listen to Hezekiah when he tries to mislead you by saying, `The LORD will rescue us!'

2Kgs.18.33

Has there ever been a god anywhere who delivered anyone from the king of Assyria?

2Kgs.18.33

Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

2Kgs.18.33

Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

2Kgs.18.33

Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria?

2Kgs.18.34

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? And Samaria--did their gods save them?

2Kgs.18.34

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand?

2Kgs.18.34

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim and Hena and Ivah? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand?

2Kgs.18.34

What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did they rescue Samaria from my power?

2Kgs.18.35

Can you name a god who saved anyone anywhere from me, the king of Assyria? So what makes you think that GOD can save Jerusalem from me?"

2Kgs.18.35

Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"

2Kgs.18.35

Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?"'

2Kgs.18.35

What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? Name just one! So what makes you think that the LORD can rescue Jerusalem?"

2Kgs.18.36

The people were silent. No one spoke a word for the king had ordered, "Don't anyone say a word--not one word!"

2Kgs.18.36

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."

2Kgs.18.36

But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, "Do not answer him."

2Kgs.18.36

But the people were silent and did not answer because Hezekiah had told them not to speak.

2Kgs.18.37

Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator, and Shebna the royal secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the court historian went back to Hezekiah. They had ripped their robes in despair; they reported to Hezekiah the speech of the Rabshakeh.

2Kgs.18.37

Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said.

2Kgs.18.37

Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

2Kgs.18.37

Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian representative had said.

2Kgs.19.1

When Hezekiah heard it all, he too ripped his robes apart and dressed himself in rough burlap. Then he went into The Temple of GOD.

2Kgs.19.1

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the LORD.

2Kgs.19.1

And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2Kgs.19.1

When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the Temple of the LORD to pray.

2Kgs.19.2

He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all of them dressed in rough burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

2Kgs.19.2

He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

2Kgs.19.2

Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.

2Kgs.19.2

And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.

2Kgs.19.3

They said to him, "A message from Hezekiah: "This is a black day, a terrible day--doomsday! Babies poised to be born, No strength to birth them.

2Kgs.19.3

They told him, "This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the point of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.

2Kgs.19.3

And they said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah: "This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth.

2Kgs.19.3

They told him, "This is what King Hezekiah says: This is a day of trouble, insult, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver it.

2Kgs.19.4

Maybe GOD, your God, has been listening to the blasphemous speech of the Rabshakeh who was sent by the king of Assyria, his master, to humiliate the living God; maybe GOD, your God, won't let him get by with such talk; and you, maybe you will lift up prayers for what's left of these people.'"

2Kgs.19.4

It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the LORD your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives."

2Kgs.19.4

It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left."'

2Kgs.19.4

But perhaps the LORD your God has heard the Assyrian representative defying the living God and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!"

2Kgs.19.5

That's the message King Hezekiah's servants delivered to Isaiah.

2Kgs.19.5

When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah,

2Kgs.19.5

So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

2Kgs.19.5

After King Hezekiah's officials delivered the king's message to Isaiah,

2Kgs.19.6

Isaiah answered them, "Tell your master, "GOD's word: Don't be at all concerned about what you've heard from the king of Assyria's bootlicking errand boys--these outrageous blasphemies.

2Kgs.19.6

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard-those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

2Kgs.19.6

And Isaiah said to them, "Thus you shall say to your master, "Thus says the LORD: "Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

2Kgs.19.6

the prophet replied, "Say to your master, `This is what the LORD says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king's messengers.

2Kgs.19.7

Here's what I'm going to do: Afflict him with self-doubt. He's going to hear a rumor and, frightened for his life, retreat to his own country. Once there, I'll see to it that he gets killed.'"

2Kgs.19.7

Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.'"

2Kgs.19.7

Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.""'

2Kgs.19.7

Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a report from Assyria telling him that he is needed at home. Then I will make him want to return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.'"

2Kgs.19.8

The Rabshakeh left and found that the king of Assyria had pulled up stakes from Lachish and was now fighting against Libnah.

2Kgs.19.8

When the field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah.

2Kgs.19.8

Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.

2Kgs.19.8

Meanwhile, the Assyrian representative left Jerusalem and went to consult his king, who had left Lachish and was attacking Libnah.

2Kgs.19.9

Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Cush was on his way to fight against him. So he sent another envoy with orders to deliver this message to Hezekiah king of Judah:

2Kgs.19.9

Now Sennacherib received a report that Tirhakah, the Cushite king of Egypt, was marching out to fight against him. So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah with this word:

2Kgs.19.9

And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "Look, he has come out to make war with you." So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

2Kgs.19.9

Soon afterward King Sennacherib received word that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him. Before leaving to meet the attack, he sent this message back to Hezekiah in Jerusalem:

2Kgs.19.10

"Don't let that god that you think so much of keep stringing you along with the line, "Jerusalem will never fall to the king of Assyria.' That's a barefaced lie.

2Kgs.19.10

"Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, 'Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'

2Kgs.19.10

"Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: "Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."

2Kgs.19.10

"This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don't let this God you trust deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria.

2Kgs.19.11

You know the track record of the kings of Assyria--country after country laid waste, devastated. And what makes you think you'll be an exception?

2Kgs.19.11

Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?

2Kgs.19.11

Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered?

2Kgs.19.11

You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have crushed everyone who stood in their way! Why should you be any different?

2Kgs.19.12

Take a good look at these wasted nations, destroyed by my ancestors; did their gods do them any good? Look at Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, the people of Eden at Tel Assar. Ruins.

2Kgs.19.12

Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them: the gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar?

2Kgs.19.12

Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?

2Kgs.19.12

Have the gods of other nations rescued them--such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? The former kings of Assyria destroyed them all!

2Kgs.19.13

And what's left of the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of Sepharvaim, of Hena, of Ivvah? Bones."

2Kgs.19.13

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, or of Hena or Ivvah?"

2Kgs.19.13

Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?"'

2Kgs.19.13

What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?"