6-7. Isaiah answered them, “Tell your master, ‘God’s word: Don’t be at all concerned about what you’ve heard from the king of Assyria’s bootlicking errand boys—these outrageous blasphemies. Here’s what I’m going to do: Afflict him with self-doubt. He’s going to hear a rumor and, frightened for his life, retreat to his own country. Once there, I’ll see to it that he gets killed.’”
8-13. The Rabshakeh left and found that the king of Assyria had pulled up stakes from Lachish and was now fighting against Libnah. Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Cush was on his way to fight against him. So he sent another envoy with orders to deliver this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: “Don’t let that god that you think so much of keep stringing you along with the line, ‘Jerusalem will never fall to the king of Assyria.’ That’s a barefaced lie. You know the track record of the kings of Assyria—country after country laid waste, devastated. And what makes you think you’ll be an exception? Take a good look at these wasted nations, destroyed by my ancestors; did their gods do them any good? Look at Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, the people of Eden at Tel Assar. Ruins. And what’s left of the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of Sepharvaim, of Hena, of Ivvah? Bones.”
14-15. Hezekiah took the letter from the envoy and read it. He went to The Temple of God and spread it out before God. And Hezekiah prayed—oh, how he prayed!God, God of Israel, seatedin majesty on the cherubim-throne.You are the one and only God,sovereign over all kingdoms on earth,Maker of heaven,maker of earth.
16. Open your ears, God, and listen,open your eyes and look.Look at this letter Sennacherib has sent,a brazen insult to the living God!
17. The facts are true, O God: The kings of Assyriahave laid waste countries and kingdoms.
18. Huge bonfires they made of their gods, theirno-gods hand-made from wood and stone.
19. But now O God, our God,save us from raw Assyrian power;Make all the kingdoms on earth knowthat you are God, the one and only God.
20-21. It wasn’t long before Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah:God’s word: You’ve prayed to me regarding Sennacherib king of Assyria; I’ve heard your prayer. This is my response to him:The Virgin Daughter of Zionholds you in utter contempt;Daughter Jerusalemthinks you’re nothing but scum.
22. Who do you think it is you’ve insulted?Who do you think you’ve been bad-mouthing?Before whom do you suppose you’ve been strutting?The Holy One of Israel, that’s who!
23. You dispatched your errand boysto humiliate the Master.You bragged, “With my army of chariotsI’ve climbed the highest mountains,snow-peaked alpine Lebanon mountains!I’ve cut down its giant cedars,chopped down its prize pine trees.I’ve traveled the world,visited the finest forest retreats.
24. I’ve dug wells in faraway placesand drunk their exotic waters;I’ve waded and splashed barefootin the rivers of Egypt.”
25. Did it never occur to youthat I’m behind all this?Long, long ago I drew up the plans,and now I’ve gone into action,Using you as a doomsday weapon,reducing proud cities to piles of rubble,
26. Leaving their people dispirited,slumped shoulders, limp souls.Useless as weeds, fragile as grass,insubstantial as wind-blown chaff.
27. I know when you sit down, when you comeand when you go;And, yes, I’ve marked every oneof your temper tantrums against me.
28. It’s because of your temper,your blasphemous foul temper,That I’m putting my hook in your noseand my bit in your mouthAnd turning you backto where you came from.
29. And this, Hezekiah, will be for you the confirming sign:This year you’ll eat the gleanings, next yearwhatever you can beg, borrow, or steal;But the third year you’ll sow and harvest,plant vineyards and eat grapes.
30. A remnant of the family of Judah yet againwill sink down roots and raise up fruit.
31. The remnant will come from Jerusalem,the survivors from Mount Zion.The Zeal of Godwill make it happen.