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Isaiah 37

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with coarse mourning cloth and went into the house of the LORD. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all in coarse mourning cloth, to Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz. And they said to him: This is what Hezekiah s

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Hezekiah goes to the house of the Lord

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with coarse mourning cloth and went into the house of the LORD. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all in coarse mourning cloth, to Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz. And they said to him: This is what Hezekiah says. Today is a day of trouble and rebuke and disgrace — the children have come to the birth and there's no strength to deliver them. It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, sent by his master the king of Assyria to mock the living God, and will answer the words the LORD your God has heard. So pray for the survivors who are left. So King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said to them: Tell your master this is what the LORD says. Don't be afraid of the words you've heard, those the servants of the king of Assyria used to blaspheme me. Look: I'll put a spirit in him, and he'll hear a report and go back to his own country, and I'll bring him down by the sword in his own land. So Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, because he had heard that the king had left Lachish. And he heard about Tirhakah king of Ethiopia: He's come out to fight you. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying: Tell Hezekiah king of Judah this: Don't let your God, the one you rely on, trick you by saying, Jerusalem won't be handed over to the king of Assyria. Look, you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, wiping them out. And you'll be delivered? Did the gods of the nations my fathers destroyed deliver them — Gozan and Harran and Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? ‘Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivah?’

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all in sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz. And they said to him: This is what Hezekiah says. Today is a day of trouble and rebuke and disgrace — the children have come to the birth and there's no strength to deliver them. Maybe the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, sent by his master the king of Assyria to mock the living God, and will tell him off for the words the Lord your God has heard. So say a prayer for the remnant that's left. So King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said to them: Tell your master this is what the Lord says. Don't be afraid of the words you've heard, the ones the servants of the king of Assyria used to blaspheme me. Look — I'll put a spirit in him, and he'll hear a report and go back to his own country, and I'll bring him down 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 left Lachish. And he heard about Tirhakah king of Cush: He's come out to fight you. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying: Tell Hezekiah king of Judah this: Don't let your God, the one you rely on, trick you by saying, Jerusalem won't be handed over to the king of Assyria. Look, you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, wiping them out. And you'll be delivered? Did the gods of the nations my fathers destroyed deliver them — Gozan and Harran and Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? Where's the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad and the king of the city 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, 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. And 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. It 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. So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And 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. Behold, 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. So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. And 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, 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 given 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 Telassar? Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?

1

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with coarse mourning cloth and went into the house of the LORD.

Plain English

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and put on 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

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all in coarse mourning cloth, to Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz.

Plain English

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, all in sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, son of Amoz.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

3

And they said to him: This is what Hezekiah says. Today is a day of trouble and rebuke and disgrace — the children have come to the birth and there's no strength to deliver them.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

4

It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, sent by his master the king of Assyria to mock the living God, and will answer 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 the words of the field commander, sent by his master the king of Assyria to mock the living God, and will tell him off for the words the Lord your God has heard. So say a prayer for the remnant that's left.

King James Version, 1611

It 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.

5

So King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah.

King James Version, 1611

So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

6

And Isaiah said to them: Tell your master this is what the LORD says. Don't be afraid of the words you've heard, those the servants of the king of Assyria used to blaspheme me.

Plain English

And Isaiah said to them: Tell your master this is what the Lord says. Don't be afraid of the words you've heard, the ones the servants of the king of Assyria used to blaspheme me.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

7

Look: I'll put a spirit in him, and he'll hear a report and go back to his own country, and I'll bring him down by the sword in his own land.

Plain English

Look — I'll put a spirit in him, and he'll hear a report and go back to his own country, and I'll bring him down 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 return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

8

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

And he heard about Tirhakah king of Ethiopia: He's come out to fight you. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying:

Plain English

And he heard about Tirhakah king of Cush: He's come out to fight you. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying:

King James Version, 1611

And 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,

10

Tell Hezekiah king of Judah this: Don't let your God, the one you rely on, trick you by saying, Jerusalem won't be handed over to 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 given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

11

Look, you've heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, wiping them out. And you'll be delivered?

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 fathers destroyed deliver them — Gozan and Harran and Rezeph and the people 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 Telassar?

13

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

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

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

The letter spread out

And Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers' hands and read it. Then he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: ‘O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, who lives between the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.’ LORD, listen and hear. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Hear all the words Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God. It's true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, And thrown their gods into the fire — because they weren't gods, just the work of human hands, wood and stone. That's why they could destroy them. ‘So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD, you alone.’

And Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers' hands and read it. Then he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out in front of the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim — you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth. Turn your ear, Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God. It's true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and thrown their gods into the fire — because they weren't gods, just the work of human hands, wood and stone. That's why they could destroy them. So now, Lord our God, save us out of his hand, so all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are the Lord.

And 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. And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying, O 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. Incline 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. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, 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, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

14

And Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers' hands and read it. Then he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.

Plain English

And Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers' hands and read it. Then he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out in front of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

15

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD:

Plain English

And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord:

King James Version, 1611

And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,

16

‘O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, who lives between the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.’

Plain English

Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim — you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

King James Version, 1611

O 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.

17

LORD, listen and hear. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Hear all the words Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.

Plain English

Turn your ear, Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God.

King James Version, 1611

Incline 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.

18

It's true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,

King James Version, 1611

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

19

And thrown their gods into the fire — because they weren't gods, just the work of human hands, wood and stone. That's why they could destroy them.

Plain English

and thrown their gods into the fire — because they weren't gods, just the work of human hands, wood and stone. That's why they could destroy 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.

20

‘So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are the LORD, you alone.’

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

Now 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.

The answer and the deliverance

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah: This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says. Because you've prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, This is the word the LORD has spoken about him: The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you as you go. Who is it you've mocked and blasphemed? Who have you raised your voice against and lifted your eyes up high? Against the Holy One of Israel. You've mocked the LORD through your servants and said: With my many chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the far parts of Lebanon. I'll cut down its tall cedars and its best fir trees. I'll get to its furthest height, to the forest of its fruitful land. I've dug wells and drunk water. With the soles of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of Egypt. Haven't you heard? I decided it long ago. I shaped it in the days of old, and now I've brought it about — that you should turn fortified cities into heaps of rubble. That's why the people in them had no strength. They were shaken and ashamed. They were grass in the field and green growth, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it's grown up. But I know where you sit and when you come and go, and how you rage against me. Because of your raging against me and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, I'll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your lips, and I'll turn you back the way you came. And here's the sign for you, Hezekiah: This year you'll eat what grows by itself, and the second year what comes up from that. But in the third year, sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. The survivors who escape from the people of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward. Because out of Jerusalem will come a group of survivors, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. 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 city or shoot an arrow here. He won't come at it with a shield or throw up a ramp against it. He'll go back the way he came, and he won't come into this city, declares the LORD. ‘I will defend this city to save it for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.’ Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. When they rose early in the morning, they were all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria left, returned and lived at Nineveh. While he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia. Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Because you've prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken about him: The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you as you go. Who is it you've mocked and blasphemed? Who have you raised your voice against and lifted your eyes up high? Against the Holy One of Israel. You've mocked the Lord through your servants and said: With my many chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the far parts of Lebanon. I'll cut down its tall cedars and its best junipers. I'll get to its furthest height, to the forest of its fruitful land. I've dug wells and drunk water. With the soles of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of Egypt. Haven't you heard? I decided it long ago. I shaped it in the days of old, and now I've brought it about — that you should turn fortified towns into heaps of rubble. That's why the people in them had no strength. They were shaken and put to shame. They were grass in the field and green growth, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it's grown up. But I know where you sit and when you come and go, and how you rage against me. Because of your raging against me and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, I'll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your lips, and I'll turn you back the way you came. And here's the sign for you, Hezekiah: This year you'll eat what grows by itself, and the second year what comes up from that. But in the third year, sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. And the remnant that's escaped of the house of Judah will take root downward again and bear fruit upward. Because out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. 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 city or shoot an arrow here. He won't come at it with a shield or throw up a ramp against it. He'll go back the way he came, and he won't come into this city, declares the Lord. Because I'll cover this city and save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David. Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When people got up in the morning, there they all were — dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and went, and went back and stayed at Nineveh. And while he was worshipping in the house of Nisrok his god, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and got away to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon reigned in his place.

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria: This is the word which 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 servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel. I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the 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 defenced 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 housetops, 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 will I 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 as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall 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 shields, 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. Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and 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.

21

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah: This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says. Because you've prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria,

Plain English

Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. Because you've prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria,

King James Version, 1611

Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:

22

This is the word the LORD has spoken about him: The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you as you go.

Plain English

this is the word the Lord has spoken about him: The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and laughs at you. The daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you as you go.

King James Version, 1611

This is the word which 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.

23

Who is it you've mocked and blasphemed? Who have you raised your voice against and lifted your eyes up 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.

24

You've mocked the LORD through your servants and said: With my many chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the far parts of Lebanon. I'll cut down its tall cedars and its best fir trees. I'll get to its furthest height, to the forest of its fruitful land.

Plain English

You've mocked the Lord through your servants and said: With my many chariots I've come up to the height of the mountains, to the far parts of Lebanon. I'll cut down its tall cedars and its best junipers. I'll get to its furthest height, to the forest of its fruitful land.

King James Version, 1611

By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.

25

I've dug wells and drunk water. With the soles of my feet I've dried up all the rivers of Egypt.

King James Version, 1611

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

26

Haven't you heard? I decided it long ago. I shaped it in the days of old, and now I've brought it about — that you should turn fortified cities into heaps of rubble.

Plain English

Haven't you heard? I decided it long ago. I shaped it in the days of old, and now I've brought it about — that you should turn fortified towns into heaps of rubble.

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 defenced cities into ruinous heaps.

27

That's why the people in them had no strength. They were shaken and ashamed. They were grass in the field and green growth, grass on the rooftops, scorched before it's grown up.

Plain English

That's why the people in them had no strength. They were shaken and put to shame. They were grass in the field and green growth, grass on the rooftops, scorched 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 housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.

28

But I know where you sit and when you come and go, and how you 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.

29

Because of your raging against me and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, I'll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your lips, and I'll turn you back the way you came.

King James Version, 1611

Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I 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.

30

And here's the sign for you, Hezekiah: This year you'll eat what grows by itself, and the second year what comes up from that. But in the third year, sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

King James Version, 1611

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

31

The survivors who escape from the people of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

Plain English

And the remnant that's escaped 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 again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

32

Because out of Jerusalem will come a group of survivors, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will do this.

Plain English

Because out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. 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.

33

So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: He won't come into this city or shoot an arrow here. He won't come at it with a shield or throw up a ramp against it.

Plain English

So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: He won't come into this city or shoot an arrow here. He won't come at it with a shield or throw up a ramp 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 shields, nor cast a bank against it.

34

He'll go back the way he came, and he won't come into this city, declares the LORD.

Plain English

He'll go back the way he came, and he won't come into this city, declares 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.

35

‘I will defend this city to save it for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.’

Plain English

Because I'll cover this city and save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.

King James Version, 1611

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

36

Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. When they rose early in the morning, they were all dead.

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

37

So Sennacherib king of Assyria left, returned and lived at Nineveh.

Plain English

So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and went, and went back and stayed at Nineveh.

King James Version, 1611

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

38

While he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Armenia. Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Plain English

And while he was worshipping in the house of Nisrok his god, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer struck him down with the sword and got away to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon reigned 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.