18. “It is true, Lord. The kings of Assyria have destroyed all these countries and their lands.
19. These kings have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire. But they were only wood and rock statues that men made. So the kings have destroyed them.
20. Now, Lord our God, save us from the king’s power. Then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.”
21. Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah. Isaiah said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: ‘You prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.
22. So this is what the Lord has said against Sennacherib:The people of Jerusalemhate you and make fun of you.The people of Jerusalemlaugh at you as you run away.
23. You have insulted me and spoken against me.You have raised your voice against me.You have a proud look on your face.You disobey me, the Holy One of Israel!
24. You have used your messengers to insult the Lord.You have said, “I have many chariots.With them I have gone to the tops of the mountains.I have climbed the highest mountains of Lebanon.I have cut down its tallest cedars.I have cut down its best pine trees.I have gone to its greatest heights.I have gone to its best forests.
25. I have dug wells in foreign countries.I have drunk water there.By the soles of my feet,I have dried up all the rivers of Egypt.”
26. “‘King of Assyria, surely you have heard.Long ago I, the Lord, planned these things.Long ago I planned them.Now I have made them happen.I allowed you to turn those strong, walled citiesinto piles of rocks.
27. The people living in those cities were weak.They were frightened and put to shame.They were like grass in the field.They were like tender, young grass.They were like grass that grows on the housetop.It is burned by the wind before it can grow.
28. “‘I know when you rest and when you come and go.I know how you speak against me.
29. You speak strongly against me.And I have heard your proud words.So I will put my hook in your nose.And I will put my bit in your mouth.Then I will force you to leave my countrythe same way that you came.’
30. “Then the Lord said, ‘Hezekiah, I will give you this sign:This year you will eat the grain that grows wild.And the second year you will eat what grows wild from that.But in the third year, plant grain and harvest it.Plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
31. The people left alive in the family of Judahwill be saved.Like plants that take root,they will grow strong and have many children.
32. A few people will come out of Jerusalem alive.There will be a few from Mount Zion who will live.The strong love of the Lord of heaven’s armieswill cause this to happen.’
33. “So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria:‘He will not enter this city.He will not even shoot an arrow here.He will not fight against it with shields.He will not build a ramp to attack the city walls.
34. He will return to his country the same way he came.He will not enter this city,’says the Lord.
35. The Lord says, ‘I will defend and save this city.I will do this for myself and for David, my servant.’”
36. Then the angel of the Lord went out. He killed 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies!
37. So Sennacherib king of Assyria left. He went back to Nineveh and stayed there.
38. One day Sennacherib was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch. While he was there, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with a sword. Then they escaped to the land of Ararat. So Sennacherib’s son Esarhaddon became king of Assyria.