Isaiah 39

₁Marduk-Baladan, son of Baladan, was the king of Babylon. They told him that King Hezekiah had been sick and that he was healed. He sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah. ₂Hezekiah was happy about it and he showed the messengers of King Marduk-Baladan everything that he had in his store rooms. He showed them the silver and gold, balm and pure olive oil and all his weapons. Yes, he showed them everything that was in his store rooms. Hezekiah showed the messengers everything in his palace and in his land.

₃The prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and he asked the king: ‘What did those men say? Where did they come from?’

Hezekiah told him: ‘They came from a far land, from the land of Babylon.’

₄Isaiah asked: ‘What have they seen in your palace?’

Hezekiah said: ‘They saw everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my store rooms.’

₅Isaiah said to Hezekiah: ‘Listen to what the Lord who rules over all says: ₆“The time will come when the soldiers from Babylon will come here to take everything in your house, everything that you and your forefathers collected. There will be nothing left.” This is what the Lord says. ₇And they will take some of your sons to work in the palace of the king of Babylon.’

₈Hezekiah said to Isaiah: ‘What the Lord said is good.’

Hezekiah also said: ‘I hope that we will have peace and be safe as long as I live.’