10. Don't trust your God or be fooled by his promise to defend Jerusalem against me.
11. You have heard how we Assyrian kings have completely wiped out other nations. What makes you feel so safe?
12. The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them?
13. The kings of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah have all disappeared.
14. After Hezekiah had read the note from the king of Assyria, he took it to the temple and spread it out for the Lord to see.
15. Then he prayed:
16. Lord God All-Powerful of Israel, your throne is above the winged creatures. You created the heavens and the earth, and you alone rule the kingdoms of this world.
17. Just look and see how Sennacherib has insulted you, the living God.
18. It is true, our Lord, that Assyrian kings have turned nations into deserts.
19. They destroyed the idols of wood and stone that the people of those nations had made and worshipped.
20. But you are our Lord and our God! We ask you to keep us safe from the Assyrian king. Then everyone in every kingdom on earth will know that you are the only Lord.
21-22. I went to Hezekiah and told him that the Lord God of Israel had said:Hezekiah, you prayed to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria. Now this is what I say to that king:The people of Jerusalemhate and make fun of you;they laugh behind your back.
23. Sennacherib, you cursed,shouted, and sneered at me,the holy God of Israel.
24. You let your officialsinsult me, the Lord.And here is what youhave said about yourself,“I led my chariotsto the highest heightsof Lebanon's mountains.I went deep into its forest,cutting down the best cedarand cypress trees.
25. I dried up every streamin the land of Egypt,and I drank waterfrom wells I had dug.”