Isaiah 37

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

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

3 And they said unto him, “Thus saith Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu): ‘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 יהוה your God (Elohim) will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria (Ashshur) his master hath sent to reproach the 2bliving God (Elohim Chai), and will reprove the words which יהוה your God (Elohim) hath heard; wherefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.

5 So the servants of King Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) came to Isaiah (Yeshayahu).’”

6 And Isaiah (Yeshayahu) said unto them, “Thus shall you say unto your master, ‘Thus saith יהוה: “Be not afraid of the words that you have heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria (Ashshur) have blasphemed Me.

7 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 (Ashshur) warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

9 And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia (Kush), “He is come forth to make war with you.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu), saying,

10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) king of Judah (Yehudah), saying, ‘Let not your God (Elohim), in whom you trustest, deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria (Ashshur).”

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

12 Have the gods (elohim) 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, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?’”

14 And Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) went up unto the house of יהוה, and spread it before יהוה.

15 And Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) prayed unto יהוה, saying:

16 O יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot), God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), that dwellest between the cherubims (keruvim), You are the God (Elohim), even You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

17 Incline Your ear, O יהוה, and hear; open Your eyes, O יהוה, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God (Elohim chai).

18 Of a truth, יהוה, the kings of Assyria (Ashshur) have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,

19 And have cast their gods (elohim) into the fire, for they were not God (Elohim), but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.

20 Now therefore, O יהוה our God (Elohim), save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are יהוה, even You only.”

21 Then Isaiah (Yeshayahu) the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah (Yechizqi-yahu), saying, “Thus saith יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), ‘Whereas you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria (Ashshur),

22 This is the word which יהוה hath spoken concerning him: “The virgin, the daughter of Zion (Tsiyon), hath despised you, and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) hath shaken her head at you!

23 Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? Even against the Holy One of Yisrael.

24 By your servants have you reproached the Lord (Adonai), 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 have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.’

26 Have you 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 you shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.

27 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 your abode, and your going out, and your coming in, and your rage against Me.

29 Because your rage against Me, and your tumult, is come up into Mine ears, therefore will I put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you camest.”’

30 And this shall be a sign unto you, You 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 you, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

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

32 For out of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion (Tsiyon); the zeal of יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot) shall do this.

33 Therefore thus saith יהוה concerning the king of Assyria (Ashshur): ‘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 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city,’ saith יהוה.

35 For I will defend this city to save it for Mine own sake, and for My servant Dawid’s sake.’”

36 Then the angel of יהוה went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians (Ashshur) 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 (Ashshur) departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.

38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god (eloah), 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.