Hezekiah

1After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.

After Hezekiah did all these faithful things, trouble came. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, brought his army into Judah. He attacked the cities with strong walls. He planned to take them for himself.

2And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come. He saw that Sennacherib meant to attack Jerusalem.

3He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.

So Hezekiah talked with his leaders and his best soldiers. They planned to block up the springs of water outside the city. The leaders helped him do it.

4So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

Many people came together and blocked all the springs. They also blocked the stream that ran through the land. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?"

5Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

Hezekiah worked hard to make the city strong. He fixed every broken part of the wall. He built towers on it and another wall outside it. He also fixed the terraces that held up the City of David. And he made many weapons and shields.

6And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

He chose army leaders to be over the people. He gathered everyone in the open square by the city gate. Then he spoke kind, strong words to them. He said,

7Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

"Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid of the king of Assyria. Do not be afraid of the huge army with him. The One who is with us is greater than the one with him.

8With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

The king of Assyria only has men to help him. But the LORD our God is with us. He will help us and fight our battles." The people felt strong again because of what King Hezekiah said.

9After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

Later, Sennacherib was attacking a city called Lachish with his whole army. From there he sent his servants to Jerusalem. They carried a message for King Hezekiah and for all the people of Judah in the city. The message said:

10Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?

"This is what Sennacherib, king of Assyria, says. My army has you shut inside Jerusalem. So why do you still feel safe?

11Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Hezekiah is fooling you. He says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the king of Assyria.' But he is only leaving you to die from hunger and thirst.

12Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

Wasn't it Hezekiah who took away your God's worship places and altars? He told Judah and Jerusalem to worship at only one altar and burn offerings there.

13Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?

Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to other lands? Not one of their gods could save their land from me.

14Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?

My fathers wiped out those nations. Not one of their gods could save its people from me. So how could your God save you from me?

15Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

So do not let Hezekiah fool you. Do not let him talk you into this. Do not believe him. No god of any nation has ever saved its people from me or from my fathers. Your God will surely not save you from me!"

16And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

Sennacherib's servants said even more against the LORD God. They also said more against his servant Hezekiah.

17He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.

Sennacherib also wrote letters that made fun of the LORD, the God of Israel. In them he said, "The gods of other nations did not save their people from me. In the same way, Hezekiah's God will not save his people from me."

18Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

Then the Assyrians shouted loudly in the Hebrew language. They called out to the people of Jerusalem standing on the wall. They wanted to scare them, so the city would be easy to take.

19And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.

They talked about the God of Jerusalem the same way they talked about other gods. But those other gods were only things people had made with their hands.

20And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

Because of this, King Hezekiah prayed. So did the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says. They both cried out to heaven.

21And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

The LORD sent an angel to the camp of the king of Assyria. The angel killed all the strong soldiers, the leaders, and the officers. So Sennacherib went back to his own land in shame. Later he went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons killed him with a sword.

22Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.

So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He saved them from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and from all their other enemies. He gave them peace on every side.

23And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

Many people brought gifts to Jerusalem for the LORD. They also brought fine gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on, all the nations looked up to him.

24In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.

Around that time Hezekiah became so sick that he almost died. He prayed to the LORD. God answered him and gave him a sign.

25But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

But Hezekiah's heart grew proud. He did not thank God the way he should have for this kindness. So God was angry with him, and with Judah and Jerusalem.

26Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Then Hezekiah was sorry for his pride and turned from it. The people of Jerusalem did the same. So the LORD's anger did not fall on them while Hezekiah lived.

27And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;

Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He built storerooms for his silver, gold, and jewels. He also stored spices, shields, and other costly things.

28Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.

He built places to store grain, new wine, and olive oil. He built stalls for all kinds of animals. He also built pens for his sheep and goats.

29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.

He built towns for himself. He gathered many sheep and cattle. God had given him a great deal of wealth.

30This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

Hezekiah was the one who blocked the upper opening of the Gihon spring. He sent the water down to the west side of the City of David. Everything Hezekiah did went well.

31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

Leaders in Babylon sent messengers to Hezekiah. They came to ask about the wonderful thing that had happened in the land. God stepped back and let Hezekiah choose on his own. This was a test, to show what was really in Hezekiah's heart.

32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

The other things Hezekiah did, and his faithful love, are written down. You can read them in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. They are also in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Then Hezekiah died and was buried with his family. They laid him in the upper tombs where David's family was buried. All Judah and all Jerusalem honored him when he died. Then his son Manasseh became king in his place.

1Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.

It was the fourteenth year that Hezekiah was king of Judah. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, attacked all the strong walled cities of Judah. He captured them.

2And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field.

The king of Assyria sent an officer called the Rabshakeh from the town of Lachish to Jerusalem. He came with a big army to speak to King Hezekiah. He stopped by the water channel of the upper pool. That was on the road by the field where people washed cloth.

3Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph’s son, the recorder.

Three men came out to meet him. One was Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who ran the king's palace. One was Shebna the scribe, the man who wrote things down. One was Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records.

4And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

The Rabshakeh said to them, "Take this message to Hezekiah. The great king, the king of Assyria, asks you this. What makes you feel so safe?

5I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

You say you have plans and strength for war. But those are only empty words. Who are you really trusting, that you dare to turn against me?

6Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.

Look, you are trusting Egypt. Egypt is like a cracked walking stick. If you lean on it, it breaks and cuts your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is like that to everyone who trusts him.

7But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?

Maybe you will tell me, 'We trust the LORD our God.' But he is the same God whose hilltop worship places and altars Hezekiah took away. Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem to worship at one altar only.

8Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

So make a deal now with my master, the king of Assyria. I will even hand you two thousand horses. But could you find enough riders to sit on them?

9How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

You could not even push back one small officer of my master's servants. Yet you count on Egypt to send you chariots and horsemen.

10And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Do you think I came to destroy this land without the LORD? The LORD himself told me to come up and destroy it."

11Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.

Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, "Please speak to us in Aramaic. We understand that language. Do not speak Hebrew. The people on the wall can hear you."

12But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?

But the Rabshakeh said, "My master did not send me to talk only to you and your king. He sent me to the men sitting on the wall too. They will have to eat their own waste and drink their own urine, just like you."

13Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.

Then the Rabshakeh stood up and shouted in Hebrew so all could hear. He said, "Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!

14Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.

The king says this. Do not let Hezekiah fool you. He cannot save you.

15Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Do not let Hezekiah talk you into trusting the LORD. He says the LORD will surely save you. He says this city will never be handed to the king of Assyria.

16Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;

Do not listen to Hezekiah. The king of Assyria says this. Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat from your own grapevine and your own fig tree. Each of you will drink water from your own well.

17Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

You will live that way until I come and take you away. I will bring you to a land like your own. It has grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.

18Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Watch out, so Hezekiah does not trick you by saying the LORD will save you. Has any nation's god ever saved his land from the king of Assyria?

19Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Did they save the city of Samaria from me?

20Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

Which god of all these lands ever saved his land from me? So how could the LORD save Jerusalem from me?"

21But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

But the people stayed quiet. They did not answer him one word. King Hezekiah had told them, "Do not answer him."

22Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah went back to Hezekiah. Their clothes were torn, the way people showed deep sadness. They told him everything the Rabshakeh had said.

1And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

King Hezekiah heard this news. He tore his clothes and put on rough, scratchy cloth to show his sadness. Then he went into the LORD's house.

2And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

He sent Eliakim, who ran the palace, and Shebna the writer. He also sent the leading priests. All of them wore the rough cloth. They went to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. A prophet is someone who tells people what God says.

3And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

They told him, "Hezekiah says this. Today is a day of trouble, of scolding, and of shame. It is like a baby ready to be born, when the mother has no strength left.

4It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.

Maybe the LORD your God heard what the Rabshakeh said. His master, the king of Assyria, sent him to make fun of the living God. Maybe the LORD will punish him for those words. So please pray for the few of us who are left."

5So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

So King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah.

6And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master this. The LORD says, 'Do not be afraid of the words you heard. The king of Assyria's servants said bad things about me.

7Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

Look, I will put something inside him. He will hear a report and go back to his own land. There I will let him be killed with a sword.'"

8So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

The Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. So he went back and found the king fighting against the town of Libnah.

9And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,

Then the king heard about Tirhakah, the king of Ethiopia. People said, "He is coming out to fight you." When the king heard this, he sent messengers to Hezekiah with a message.

10Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

"Say this to Hezekiah, king of Judah. Do not let your God fool you. He tells you that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.

11Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?

Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria did to other lands. They wiped them out. So will you be safe?

12Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?

My fathers destroyed many nations. Did the gods of those nations save them? Think of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph. Think of the people of Eden who lived in Telassar.

13Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?

Where is the king of Hamath now? Where is the king of Arphad? Where are the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?"

14And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the LORD's house. He spread the letter open in front of the LORD.

15And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD. He said:

16O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

"O LORD of armies, God of Israel, you sit above the cherubim. You alone are God over every kingdom on earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

17Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.

Turn your ear this way, LORD, and listen. Open your eyes, LORD, and look. Hear all the words Sennacherib sent to make fun of the living God.

18Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,

It is true, LORD. The kings of Assyria have ruined all those nations and their lands.

19And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.

They threw their gods into the fire. Those were not really gods at all. They were only wood and stone made by human hands. So the Assyrians destroyed them.

20Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

So now, O LORD our God, save us from his power. Then every kingdom on earth will know that you alone are the LORD."