12. Were the nations whom my ancestors destroyed – the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar – rescued by their gods?
13. Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?’”
14. Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord’s temple and spread it out before the Lord.
15. Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: “Lord God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubs! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth.
16. Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to the message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God!
17. It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.
18. They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.
19. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.”
20. Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I have heard your prayer concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria.
21. This is what the Lord says about him: “The virgin daughter Zion despises you, she makes fun of you;Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you.
22. Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at?At whom have you shouted,and looked so arrogantly?At the Holy One of Israel!
23. Through your messengers you taunted the sovereign master, ‘With my many chariotsI climbed up the high mountains, the slopes of Lebanon.I cut down its tall cedars,and its best evergreens.I invaded its most remote regions,its thickest woods.
24. I dug wells and drankwater in foreign lands.With the soles of my feet I dried upall the rivers of Egypt.’
25. Certainly you must have heard!Long ago I worked it out,In ancient times I planned it;and now I am bringing it to pass.The plan is this:Fortified cities will crashinto heaps of ruins.
26. Their residents are powerless,they are terrified and ashamed.They are as short-lived as plants in the field,or green vegetation.They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftopswhen it is scorched by the east wind.