2 Kings 20:12-19

Contemporary English Version

The Lord Is Still with Hezekiah

(Isaiah 39.1-8)

¹² Merodach^[a] Baladan, the son of Baladan, was now king of Babylonia.^[b] And when he learned that Hezekiah had been sick, he sent messengers with letters and a gift for him. ¹³ Hezekiah welcomed^[c] the messengers and showed them all the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oils that were in his storehouse. He even showed them where he kept his weapons. Nothing in his palace or in his entire kingdom was kept hidden from them.

¹⁴ Isaiah asked Hezekiah, “Where did these men come from? What did they want?”

“They came all the way from Babylonia,” Hezekiah answered.

¹⁵ “What did you show them?” Isaiah asked.

Hezekiah answered, “I showed them everything in my kingdom.”

¹⁶ Then Isaiah told Hezekiah:

I have a message for you from the Lord. ^17 (A) One day everything you and your ancestors have stored up will be taken to Babylonia. The Lord has promised that nothing will be left. ^18 (B) Some of your own sons will be taken to Babylonia, where they will be disgraced and made to serve in the king's palace.

¹⁹ Hezekiah thought, “At least our nation will be at peace for a while.” So he told Isaiah, “The message you brought me from the Lord is good.”