5. When Isaiah received King Hezekiah's message,
6. he sent back this answer: “The Lord tells you not to let the Assyrians frighten you by their claims that he cannot save you.
7. The Lord will cause the emperor to hear a rumour that will make him go back to his own country, and the Lord will have him killed there.”
8. The Assyrian official learnt that the emperor had left Lachish and was fighting against the nearby city of Libnah; so he went there to consult him.
9. Word reached the Assyrians that the Egyptian army, led by King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, was coming to attack them. When the emperor heard this, he sent letter to King Hezekiah
10. of Judah to say to him, “The god you are trusting in has told you that you will not fall into my hands, but don't let that deceive you.
11. You have heard what an Assyrian emperor does to any country he decides to destroy. Do you think that you can escape?
12. My ancestors destroyed the cities of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and killed the people of Betheden who lived in Telassar, and none of their gods could save them.
13. Where are the kings of the cities of Hamath, Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?”
14. King Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went to the Temple, placed the letter there in the presence of the Lord,
15. and prayed,
16. “Almighty Lord, God of Israel, enthroned above the winged creatures, you alone are God, ruling all the kingdoms of the world. You created the earth and the sky.
17. Now, Lord, hear us and look at what is happening to us. Listen to all the things that Sennacherib is saying to insult you, the living God.
18. We all know, Lord, that the emperors of Assyria have destroyed many nations, made their lands desolate,
19. and burnt up their gods — which were no gods at all, only images of wood and stone made by human hands.
20. Now, Lord our God, rescue us from the Assyrians, so that all the nations of the world will know that you alone are God.”
21. Then Isaiah sent a message telling King Hezekiah that in answer to the king's prayer