Isaiah
Chapter 39
Envoys from the king of Babylon come to Hezekiah with letters and a gift after his illness. Hezekiah proudly shows them everything he owns, holding nothing back. Isaiah then tells him that one day all of it, along with some of his own descendants, will be carried off to Babylon. Hezekiah accepts the message, glad that peace will last through his own lifetime.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
1Around that time, Merodachbaladan son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah. He had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and had gotten well again.
2And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
2Hezekiah was happy to see the messengers. He showed them his treasure room: the silver, the gold, the spices, and the costly oil. He showed them his whole weapon store and everything in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or anywhere in his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
3Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.
3Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked, "What did those men say? Where did they come from?" Hezekiah answered, "They came to me from a country far away, from Babylon."
4Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
4Isaiah asked, "What did they see in your palace?" Hezekiah answered, "They saw everything in my palace. There is nothing in my storerooms that I did not show them."
5Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says:
"The LORD of hosts" means the LORD who commands armies. The "hosts" are his armies.
6Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
6The time is coming when everything in your palace will be carried off to Babylon. Everything your ancestors have saved up until today will go too. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.
7And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
7And some of your own sons, your own children and grandchildren, will be taken away. They will be servants in the palace of the king of Babylon."
The KJV says the sons will be "eunuchs." These were men who had been made unable to father children, and who then served inside a king's palace.
8Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD you have spoken is good." For he thought, "At least there will be peace and safety while I am alive."
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