1 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu), that Senna-cherib king of Assyria (Ashshur) came up against all the defenced cities of Judah (Yehudah), and took them.
2 And the king of Assyria (Ashshur) sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) unto King Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field.
3 Then came forth unto him Elyaqim, Hilkiah (Chilqiyahu)’s son, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Yoach, Asaph’s son, the recorder.
4 And Rabshakeh said unto them, “Say you now to Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu), ‘Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria (Ashshur): “What confidence is this wherein you trustest?
5 “I say, sayest you, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost you trust, that you rebellest against me?
6 Behold, you trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt (Mitsrayim); whereon if a man leans, it will go into his hand, and pierce it; so is Pharaoh (Paroh) king of Egypt (Mitsrayim) to all that trust in him.
7 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in יהוה our God (Elohim);’ is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) hath taken away, and said to Judah (Yehudah) and to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), ‘You shall worship before this altar’?”’
8 Now therefore give pledges, I pray you, to my master the king of Assyria (Ashshur), and I will give you two thousand horses, if you be able on your part to set riders upon them!
9 How then wilt you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust on Egypt (Mitsrayim) for chariots and for horsemen?
10 And am I now come up without יהוה against this land to destroy it? יהוה said unto me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’”
11 Then said Elyaqim and Shebna and Yoach unto Rabshakeh, “Please speak unto your servants in the Syrian language (Aramit); for we understand it; and speak not to us in the Jews’ language (Yehudit), in the ears of the people that are on the wall.”
12 But Rabshakeh said, “Hath my master sent me to your master and to you 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?”
13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language (Yehudit), and said, “Hear you the words of the great king, the king of Assyria (Ashshur)!
14 Thus saith the king, ‘Let not Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) deceive you; for he shall not be able to deliver you.
15 Nor let Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) make you trust in יהוה, saying, “יהוה will surely deliver us; this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria (Ashshur).”’
16 Hearken not to Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu); for thus saith the king of Assyria (Ashshur): ‘Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat you every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink you every one the waters of his own cistern;
17 Until 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.
18 Beware lest Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) persuade you, saying, “יהוה will deliver us. Hath any of the gods (elohim) of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria (Ashshur)?
19 Where are the gods (elohim) of Hamath and Arphad? Where are the gods (elohim) of Sepharvaim? And have they delivered Samaria (Shomeron) out of my hand?’”
20 Who are they among all the gods (elohim) of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that יהוה should deliver Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) out of my hand?
21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, “Answer him not.”
22 Then came Elyaqim, the son of Hilkiah (Chilqiyahu), that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Yoach, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.