Aussie Bible logo Aussie BibleFair Dinkum Edition

2 Kings 19

When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his robes, put on coarse mourning cloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe and the senior priests, all wearing coarse mourning cloth, to Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz. They told him: This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day

Now reading: Fair DinkumRead:

You’re in Study Mode. Each verse can show the Fair Dinkum, Plain English and King James Version (1611) together. Use the buttons above to show or hide any version.

Isaiah's word

When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his robes, put on coarse mourning cloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe and the senior priests, all wearing coarse mourning cloth, to Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz. They told him: This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, rebuke and disgrace. The children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to insult the living God, and will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. So pray for the survivors who are left. King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah, and Isaiah told them: Say this to your master: This is what the Lord says: Don't be afraid of the words you've heard, with which the king of Assyria's servants have blasphemed me. I will put a spirit in him. He will hear a rumour and return to his own land, and there I will cause him to fall by the sword. Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, because he had heard the king had left Lachish. Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Ethiopia was coming out to fight him. So he sent messengers back to Hezekiah with these words: Tell Hezekiah king of Judah: Don't let the God you trust fool you by saying Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. You've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to every land, completely destroying them. Do you really think you'll be rescued? Did the gods of the nations my ancestors destroyed rescue them — Gozan, Haran, Rezeph and the people of Eden in Thelasar? Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah?

And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz. And they said to him: This is what Hezekiah says. This day is a day of trouble and of telling off and of insult. Because the children have come to the birth, and there isn't strength to bring out. Maybe the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, who the king of Assyria his master has sent to insult the living God, and will tell him off for the words the Lord your God has heard. So lift up your prayer for the ones left who are still here. So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said to them: This is what you'll say to your master. This is what the Lord says. Don't be frightened of the words you've heard, that the servants of the king of Assyria have insulted me with. Look — I'll send a spirit on him, and he'll hear a rumour and go back to his own land. And I'll make him fall by the sword in his own land. So the field commander went back and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. Because he'd heard he'd gone from Lachish. And when he heard about Tirhakah king of Cush: Look — he's come out to fight you — he sent messengers again to Hezekiah: This is what you'll say to Hezekiah king of Judah. Don't let your God you trust in take you in: Jerusalem won't be handed over into the hand of the king of Assyria. Look — you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by completely wrecking them. And will you be rescued? Have the gods of the nations rescued them that my fathers wrecked — Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar? Where's the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad and the king of the town of Sepharvaim, of Hena and Ivvah?

And 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. And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. It may be the LORD thy God will hear all 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 are left. So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? Have 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 Thelasar? Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

1

When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his robes, put on coarse mourning cloth and went into the temple of the Lord.

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

2

He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe and the senior priests, all wearing coarse mourning cloth, to Isaiah the prophet son of Amoz.

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

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

3

They told him: This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, rebuke and disgrace. The children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.

Plain English

And they said to him: This is what Hezekiah says. This day is a day of trouble and of telling off and of insult. Because the children have come to the birth, and there isn't strength to bring out.

King James Version, 1611

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

4

Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to insult the living God, and will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. So pray for the survivors who are left.

Plain English

Maybe the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, who the king of Assyria his master has sent to insult the living God, and will tell him off for the words the Lord your God has heard. So lift up your prayer for the ones left who are still here.

King James Version, 1611

It may be the LORD thy God will hear all 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 are left.

5

King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah,

Plain English

So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

King James Version, 1611

So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6

and Isaiah told them: Say this to your master: This is what the Lord says: Don't be afraid of the words you've heard, with which the king of Assyria's servants have blasphemed me.

Plain English

And Isaiah said to them: This is what you'll say to your master. This is what the Lord says. Don't be frightened of the words you've heard, that the servants of the king of Assyria have insulted me with.

King James Version, 1611

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

7

I will put a spirit in him. He will hear a rumour and return to his own land, and there I will cause him to fall by the sword.

Plain English

Look — I'll send a spirit on him, and he'll hear a rumour and go back to his own land. And I'll make him fall by the sword in his own land.

King James Version, 1611

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

8

Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, because he had heard the king had left Lachish.

Plain English

So the field commander went back and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah. Because he'd heard he'd gone from Lachish.

King James Version, 1611

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

9

Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Ethiopia was coming out to fight him. So he sent messengers back to Hezekiah with these words:

Plain English

And when he heard about Tirhakah king of Cush: Look — he's come out to fight you — he sent messengers again to Hezekiah:

King James Version, 1611

And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,

10

Tell Hezekiah king of Judah: Don't let the God you trust fool you by saying Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.

Plain English

This is what you'll say to Hezekiah king of Judah. Don't let your God you trust in take you in: Jerusalem won't be handed over into the hand of the king of Assyria.

King James Version, 1611

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

11

You've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to every land, completely destroying them. Do you really think you'll be rescued?

Plain English

Look — you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by completely wrecking them. And will you be rescued?

King James Version, 1611

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

12

Did the gods of the nations my ancestors destroyed rescue them — Gozan, Haran, Rezeph and the people of Eden in Thelasar?

Plain English

Have the gods of the nations rescued them that my fathers wrecked — Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?

King James Version, 1611

Have 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 Thelasar?

13

Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah?

Plain English

Where's the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad and the king of the town of Sepharvaim, of Hena and Ivvah?

King James Version, 1611

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

Hezekiah's prayer

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: Lord God of Israel, who lives between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. Lord, bend down your ear and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. It is true, Lord: the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands. They threw their gods into the fire and destroyed them, because they were not gods at all, but wood and stone made by human hands. Now, Lord our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord God.

And Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. And Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord and spread it out in front of the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed in front of the Lord: Lord God of Israel, who sits between the cherubim, you're the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You've made heaven and earth. Turn your ear, Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. And hear the words of Sennacherib, that he's sent to insult the living God. It's true, Lord, the kings of Assyria have wrecked the nations and their lands, and have thrown their gods into the fire. Because they weren't gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they've wrecked them. So now, Lord our God, save us out of his hand, please, so all the kingdoms of the earth can know that you're the Lord God, you alone.

And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, And 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. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.

14

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.

Plain English

And Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. And Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord and spread it out in front of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

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

15

Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: Lord God of Israel, who lives between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth.

Plain English

And Hezekiah prayed in front of the Lord: Lord God of Israel, who sits between the cherubim, you're the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You've made heaven and earth.

King James Version, 1611

And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

16

Lord, bend down your ear and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

Plain English

Turn your ear, Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. And hear the words of Sennacherib, that he's sent to insult the living God.

King James Version, 1611

LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.

17

It is true, Lord: the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.

Plain English

It's true, Lord, the kings of Assyria have wrecked the nations and their lands,

King James Version, 1611

Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,

18

They threw their gods into the fire and destroyed them, because they were not gods at all, but wood and stone made by human hands.

Plain English

and have thrown their gods into the fire. Because they weren't gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they've wrecked them.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

19

Now, Lord our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord God.

Plain English

So now, Lord our God, save us out of his hand, please, so all the kingdoms of the earth can know that you're the Lord God, you alone.

King James Version, 1611

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

The Lord's answer

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I have heard your prayer about Sennacherib king of Assyria. This is the word the Lord has spoken against him: The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you. Who have you insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel. Through your messengers you have insulted the Lord and boasted: With my many chariots I have climbed the heights of the mountains, the slopes of Lebanon. I will cut down its tallest cedars and finest firs; I will enter its farthest lodgings and the forest of its Carmel. I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the rivers of besieged places. Haven't you heard? Long ago I ordained it; in ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should reduce fortified cities to heaps of ruins. Their people had little power. They were terrified and put to shame. They became like grass in the field, green shoots, grass on rooftops and grain blasted before it grows. But I know where you live, when you go out, when you come in, and how you rage against me. Because your rage against me and your uproar have reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and turn you back by the way you came. This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows by itself, and next year what springs from that. In the third year, sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. The survivors of Judah who escape will again take root below and bear fruit above. For a group of survivors will go out from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, shoot an arrow here, come before it with shield, or build a siege ramp against it. By the same way he came, he will return. He will not enter this city, says the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David. That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When people got up the next morning, there they were — all dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and went home to Nineveh, where he stayed. One day, while he was worshipping in the temple of Nisroch his god, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword and escaped into the land of Armenia. His son Esarhaddon became king in his place.

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah: This is what the Lord God of Israel says. What you've prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I've heard. This is the word the Lord has spoken about him. The virgin daughter of Zion looks down on you and laughs you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you. Who have you insulted and spoken against? And who have you lifted up your voice against and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. By your messengers you've insulted the Lord: With the crowd of my chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon. And I'll cut down its tall cedar trees and the choice fir trees of it. And I'll go into the lodgings of its borders and into the forest of its Carmel. I've dug and drunk strange waters. And with the sole of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of the besieged places. Haven't you heard long ago how I've done it, and of ancient times that I shaped it? Now I've brought it about, that you should be to lay waste fortified towns into ruinous heaps. So the people who lived there were of small power. They were troubled and put to shame. They were like the grass of the field and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops and like grain blasted before it's grown up. But I know where you stay and your going out and your coming in, and your rage against me. Because your rage against me and your uproar have come up into my ears, so I'll put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and I'll turn you back by the way you came. And this will be a sign to you: You'll eat this year what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same. And in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards and eat their fruit. And what's left that's got away of the house of Judah will take root downward again and bear fruit upward. Because out of Jerusalem will go the ones left, and out of Mount Zion the ones who get away. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will do this. So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria. He won't come into this town or shoot an arrow there or come in front of it with a shield or throw up a mound against it. By the way he came, that's the way he'll go back. And he won't come into this town, says the Lord. Because I'll defend this town, to save it, for my own sake and for my servant David's sake. And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. And when they got up early in the morning, look — they were all dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of Assyria went away and went back and lived at Nineveh. And as he was bowing down in the house of Nisrok his god, Adrammelek and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword. And they got away into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son ruled in his place.

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. By thy messengers thou hast reproached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places. Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps. Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

20

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I have heard your prayer about Sennacherib king of Assyria.

Plain English

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah: This is what the Lord God of Israel says. What you've prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I've heard.

King James Version, 1611

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.

21

This is the word the Lord has spoken against him: The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you.

Plain English

This is the word the Lord has spoken about him. The virgin daughter of Zion looks down on you and laughs you to scorn. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you.

King James Version, 1611

This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

22

Who have you insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel.

Plain English

Who have you insulted and spoken against? And who have you lifted up your voice against and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.

King James Version, 1611

Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

23

Through your messengers you have insulted the Lord and boasted: With my many chariots I have climbed the heights of the mountains, the slopes of Lebanon. I will cut down its tallest cedars and finest firs; I will enter its farthest lodgings and the forest of its Carmel.

Plain English

By your messengers you've insulted the Lord: With the crowd of my chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon. And I'll cut down its tall cedar trees and the choice fir trees of it. And I'll go into the lodgings of its borders and into the forest of its Carmel.

King James Version, 1611

By thy messengers thou hast reproached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.

24

I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the rivers of besieged places.

Plain English

I've dug and drunk strange waters. And with the sole of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.

King James Version, 1611

I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.

25

Haven't you heard? Long ago I ordained it; in ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should reduce fortified cities to heaps of ruins.

Plain English

Haven't you heard long ago how I've done it, and of ancient times that I shaped it? Now I've brought it about, that you should be to lay waste fortified towns into ruinous heaps.

King James Version, 1611

Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.

26

Their people had little power. They were terrified and put to shame. They became like grass in the field, green shoots, grass on rooftops and grain blasted before it grows.

Plain English

So the people who lived there were of small power. They were troubled and put to shame. They were like the grass of the field and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops and like grain blasted before it's grown up.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

27

But I know where you live, when you go out, when you come in, and how you rage against me.

Plain English

But I know where you stay and your going out and your coming in, and your rage against me.

King James Version, 1611

But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

28

Because your rage against me and your uproar have reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and turn you back by the way you came.

Plain English

Because your rage against me and your uproar have come up into my ears, so I'll put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and I'll turn you back by the way you came.

King James Version, 1611

Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

29

This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows by itself, and next year what springs from that. In the third year, sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Plain English

And this will be a sign to you: You'll eat this year what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs of the same. And in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

King James Version, 1611

And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

30

The survivors of Judah who escape will again take root below and bear fruit above.

Plain English

And what's left that's got away of the house of Judah will take root downward again and bear fruit upward.

King James Version, 1611

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

31

For a group of survivors will go out from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Plain English

Because out of Jerusalem will go the ones left, and out of Mount Zion the ones who get away. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will do this.

King James Version, 1611

For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

32

So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, shoot an arrow here, come before it with shield, or build a siege ramp against it.

Plain English

So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria. He won't come into this town or shoot an arrow there or come in front of it with a shield or throw up a mound against it.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

33

By the same way he came, he will return. He will not enter this city, says the Lord.

Plain English

By the way he came, that's the way he'll go back. And he won't come into this town, says the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.

34

I will defend this city and save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.

Plain English

Because I'll defend this town, to save it, for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.

King James Version, 1611

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

35

That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When people got up the next morning, there they were — all dead bodies.

Plain English

And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. And when they got up early in the morning, look — they were all dead bodies.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

36

So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and went home to Nineveh, where he stayed.

Plain English

So Sennacherib king of Assyria went away and went back and lived at Nineveh.

King James Version, 1611

So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

37

One day, while he was worshipping in the temple of Nisroch his god, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword and escaped into the land of Armenia. His son Esarhaddon became king in his place.

Plain English

And as he was bowing down in the house of Nisrok his god, Adrammelek and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword. And they got away into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son ruled in his place.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.