2 Chronicles 32

1 After these things done in faithfulness, came Sennacherib king of Assyria, —and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.

After these things, and after this manner of truth, Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrians arrived. And entering Judah, he besieged the fortified cities, desiring to seize them.

2 And, when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, —and that, his face, was—to war, against Jerusalem,

And when Hezekiah had seen this, specifically that Sennacherib had arrived, and that the entire force of the war was turning against Jerusalem,

3 he took counsel with his captains and his heroes, to stop the waters of the fountains, which were outside the city, —and they helped him.

he took counsel with the rulers and with the most valiant men, so that they might obstruct the heads of the springs which were beyond the city. And with everyone discerning the same judgment about this,

4 And there were gathered together much people, so they stopped all the fountains, and the torrent that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, —Wherefore should the kings of Assyria come, and find many waters?

he gathered together a great multitude, and they obstructed all the springs, and the brook which was flowing through the midst of the land, saying: “Otherwise, the kings of the Assyrians might arrive and find an abundance of water.”

5 And he took courage, and built all the wall that was broken down and carried up thereon towers, and, on the outside, another wall, and strengthened Millo, the city of David, -and made weapons in abundance, and bucklers,

Also, acting industriously, he built up the entire wall that had been broken apart. And he constructed towers upon it, and another wall outside it. And he repaired Millo, in the City of David. And he made all kinds of weapons and shields.

6 and set captains of war over the people, —and gathered them together unto him in the broadway of the gate of the city, and spake unto their heart, saying, —

And he appointed leaders of the warriors within the army. And he summoned them all to the wide street of the gate of the city. And he spoke to their heart, saying:

7 Be strong and bold, do not fear neither be dismayed, because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the multitude that is with him, —for, with us, is One greater than with him:

“Act manfully and be strengthened. Do not be afraid. Neither should you dread the king of the Assyrians and the entire multitude that is with him. For many more are with us than with him.

8 with him, is an arm of flesh, but, with us, is Yahweh our God, to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people leaned upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

For with him is an arm of flesh; with us is the Lord our God, who is our helper, and who fights for us.” And the people were strengthened by this type of words from Hezekiah, the king of Judah.

9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants towards Jerusalem, himself, being near Lachish, and all his imperial might with him, —unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that was in Jerusalem, saying:

After these things, Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrians, sent his servants to Jerusalem, (for he and his entire army were besieging Lachish) to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and to all the people who were in the city, saying:

10 Thus, saith Sennacherib, king of Assyria, -Upon what, are, ye, trusting, that ye are awaiting the siege in Jerusalem?

“Thus says Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrians: In whom do you have faith, as you sit besieged in Jerusalem?

11 Is not, Hezekiah, persuading you, so as to deliver you up to die with hunger and with thirst, saying, —Yahweh our God, will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Does not Hezekiah deceive you, so that he would deliver you to die from hunger and thirst, by affirming that the Lord your God will free you from the hand of the king of the Assyrians?

12 Is it not, the same Hezekiah, who hath removed his high places, and his altars, —and hath given word to Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Before one altar, shall ye bow yourselves down, and, thereupon, shall ye burn incense?

Is this not the same Hezekiah who destroyed his own high places and altars, and who instructed Judah and Jerusalem, saying: ‘You shall worship before one altar, and you shall burn incense upon it?’

13 Will ye not take note, what I have done, I and my fathers, to all the peoples of the countries? Have the gods of the nations of the countries been, at all able, to deliver their country, out of my hand?

Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have the gods of the nations and all the lands prevailed so as to free their region from my hand?

14 Who, among all the gods of these nations whom my fathers devoted to destruction, hath ever been able to deliver his people out of my hand, —that your god should be able to deliver you out of my hand?

Who is there, out of all the gods of the nations that my fathers destroyed, who is able to rescue his people from my hand, so that now also your God would be able to rescue you from this hand?

15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah beguile you nor persuade you thus, neither do ye believe him. For no, god, of any nation or kingdom hath ever been able to deliver his people out of my hand, or out of the hand of my fathers, -how much less shall, your gods, deliver you, out of my hand?

Therefore, let not Hezekiah deceive or delude you with vain persuasion. And you should not believe him. For if no god out of all the nations and kingdoms was able to free his people from my hand, and from the hand of my fathers, consequently neither will your God be able to rescue you from my hand.”

16 And, yet more, spake his servants, against Yahweh, God, —and against Hezekiah his servant.

Then too, his servants were speaking many other things against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

17 Letters, also wrote he, to scoff at Yahweh God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, Like the gods of the nations of the countries, who delivered not their people out of my hand, so, shall the god of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand.

Also, he wrote letters full of blasphemy against the Lord God of Israel. And against him he said: “Just as the gods of other nations were unable to free their people from my hand, so also is the God of Hezekiah unable to rescue his people from this hand.”

18 Then cried they out, with a loud voice, in the Jews’ language, unto the people of Jerusalem who were upon the wall, to affright them, and to terrify them, —to the end they might capture the city.

Moreover, he also shouted with a great clamor, in the language of the Jews, toward the people who were sitting upon the walls of Jerusalem, so that he might frighten them and so seize the city.

19 And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, —as against the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of the hands of men.

And he was speaking against the God of Jerusalem, just as against the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are works of the hands of men.

20 And Hezekiah the king and Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, prayed concerning this, -and made outcry unto the heavens,

And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed against this blasphemy, and they cried out to heaven.

21 So Yahweh sent a messenger, who cut off every hero of valour, and chief ruler and captain, in the camp of the king of Assyria, —and he returned with shame of face to his own land, and, when he entered the house of his god, then, the issue of his own body—there, caused him to fall by the sword.

And the Lord sent an Angel, who struck all the experienced men and warriors, and the leaders of the army of the king of the Assyrians. And he returned in disgrace to his own land. And when he had entered the house of his god, the sons who had gone forth from his loins killed him with the sword.

22 Thus did Yahweh save Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria, and out of the hand of every one, —and gave them rest on every side.

And the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrians, and from the hand of all. And he presented to them peace on every side.

23 And, many, were bringing in a present unto Yahweh, to Jerusalem, and precious things, unto Hezekiah king of Judah, —so that he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations, from thenceforth.

And now many were bringing victims and sacrifices to the Lord in Jerusalem, and gifts to Hezekiah, the king of Judah. And after these things, he was exalted before all the nations.

24 In those days, was Hezekiah sick unto death, —and, when he prayed unto Yahweh, he was entreated of him and, a wonderful token, he gave him.

In those days, Hezekiah was sick, even unto death, and he prayed to the Lord. And he heeded him, and gave to him a sign.

25 But, not according to the benefit done unto him, did Hezekiah make return, for uplifted was his heart, —and so there came upon him, wrath, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.

But he did not repay according to the benefits which he had received, for his heart was lifted up. And so wrath was brought against him, and against Judah and Jerusalem.

26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself, for the uplifting of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, —so that the wrath of Yahweh came not upon them, in the days of Hezekiah.

And after this, he was humbled, because he had exalted his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And therefore the wrath of the Lord did not overwhelm them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And it came to pass that, Hezekiah, had riches and honour in great abundance, —and, treasuries, made he for himself—for silver and for gold and for costly stones, and for spices and for precious things, and for all utensils to be coveted;

Now Hezekiah was wealthy and very famous. And he gathered for himself many treasures of silver and gold and precious stones, of aromatics, and all kinds of weapons, and vessels of great price,

28 storehouses also, for the increase of corn, and new wine and oil, —and cribs for every kind of beast, and cribs for the flocks;

and also repositories of grain, wine, and oil, and stalls for every beast of burden, and fencing for cattle.

29 and, cities, made he for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds, in abundance, —for God had given him exceeding great wealth.

And he built for himself cities. For indeed, he had innumerable herds and flocks of sheep. For the Lord had given to him an exceedingly great substance.

30 And, the same Hezekiah, stopped up the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down the west side of the city of David, —and Hezekiah prospered in all his work.

This same Hezekiah was the one who blocked the upper font of the waters of Gihon, and who diverted them down to the western part of the City of David. In all his works, he prosperously accomplished whatever he willed.

31 Yet verily, with regard to the ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire concerning the wonderful token which came to pass in the land, God left him, —to prove him, to take note of all that was in his heart.

Yet still, concerning the legates from the leaders of Babylon, who had been sent to him so that they might inquire about the portent which had happened upon the earth, God permitted him to be tempted, so that everything might be made known which was in his heart.

32 But, the rest of the story of Hezekiah, and his lovingkindnesses, there they are, written in the visions of Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, in the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

Now the rest of the words of Hezekiah, and his mercies, have been written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amos, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him, honour, in his death, —and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers. And they buried him above the sepulchers of the sons of David. And all of Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, celebrated his funeral. And his son, Manasseh, reigned in his place.