2 Chronicles 32 – KJV & CCBT

King James Version

2 Chronicles 32:1-33

1After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.32.1 to win…: Heb. to break them up 2And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,32.2 he was…: Heb. his face was to war 3He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. 4So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?32.4 ran: Heb. overflowed 5Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.32.5 darts: or, swords, or, weapons 6And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,32.6 spake…: Heb. he spoke to their heart 7Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.32.8 rested…: Heb. leaned

9¶ After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,32.9 power: Heb. dominion 10Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?32.10 siege: or, strong hold 11Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 12Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? 13Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? 14Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? 15Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? 16And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. 17He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. 18Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 19And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. 20And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.

21¶ And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.32.21 slew…: Heb. made him fall 22Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. 23And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.32.23 presents: Heb. precious things

24¶ In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.32.24 gave…: or, wrought a miracle for him 25But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.32.26 pride: Heb. lifting up

27¶ And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;32.27 pleasant…: Heb. instruments of desire 28Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. 30This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

31¶ Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.32.31 ambassadors: Heb. interpreters

32¶ Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.32.32 goodness: Heb. kindnesses 33And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.32.33 chiefest: or, highest

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

歷代志下 32:1-33

希西迦加強防禦

1希西迦忠心地辦好這些事以後,亞述西拿基立起兵入侵猶大,圍攻各堅城,企圖攻佔這些城。 2希西迦西拿基立定意要攻打耶路撒冷3就與眾官員和將領商議,決定截斷城外的水源,眾人也都贊成。 4於是,他們召集大批民眾,截斷所有的水源和過境的溪流,不讓亞述王得到充足的水。 5希西迦發憤圖強,修築所有被毀壞的城牆,在上面建造城樓,在城外加建一道牆,並在大衛城的米羅加強防禦,製造許多兵器和盾牌。 6他委任將領管理民眾,將他們全部召集在城門的廣場上,訓勉他們說: 7「你們要剛強勇敢,不要在亞述王和他的大軍面前恐懼驚慌,因為與我們同在的比與他同在的更有能力。 8那與他同在的只是血肉之軀,與我們同在的卻是我們的上帝耶和華,祂必幫助我們,為我們作戰。」眾人因猶大希西迦的這番話而得到鼓舞。

亞述恐嚇耶路撒冷

9之後,亞述西拿基立率領全軍圍攻拉吉,同時派遣使者到耶路撒冷城,對猶大希西迦和城中所有的猶大人說: 10亞述西拿基立這樣說,『你們仍然留在被困的耶路撒冷,究竟倚仗什麼呢? 11希西迦說你們的上帝耶和華會從亞述王手中拯救你們,難道你們不知道這是哄騙你們的話,是要叫你們留在這裡饑渴至死嗎? 12希西迦不是曾經廢掉耶和華的邱壇和祭壇,吩咐猶大人和耶路撒冷人只在一個祭壇前敬拜,在祭壇上燒香嗎? 13難道你們不知道我和我的祖先怎樣對付列國嗎?列國的神明哪個能從我手中救自己的國家呢? 14我祖先所滅的列國中,有哪國的神明能從我手中救自己的國民呢?難道你們的上帝能從我手中救你們嗎? 15所以,不要讓希西迦欺騙、迷惑你們,也不要相信他!任何民族或國家的神明都不能從我和我祖先手中救他的人民,何況你們的上帝呢?』」

16亞述王的使者還用別的話譭謗耶和華上帝和祂的僕人希西迦17西拿基立還寫信侮辱以色列的上帝耶和華說:「既然列邦的神明都不能從我手中救自己的人民,希西迦的上帝也不例外。」 18亞述王的使者用希伯來語大聲向城牆上的耶路撒冷人喊話,威嚇他們,使他們懼怕,以便攻取城。 19他把耶路撒冷的上帝與世間人手所造的神像相提並論。

耶和華拯救耶路撒冷

20於是,希西迦王和亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞先知向天上的上帝呼求禱告。 21耶和華就差遣一個天使進入亞述王營中,毀滅了所有的勇士、官長和將領。西拿基立只好滿臉羞愧地返回自己的國家。趁他去他神明的廟裡時,他的幾個親生兒子用刀殺了他。 22這樣,耶和華從亞述西拿基立及一切仇敵手中拯救了希西迦耶路撒冷的居民,使他們四境平安。 23許多人帶著祭物到耶路撒冷獻給耶和華,也帶許多名貴的禮物送給猶大希西迦。此後,希西迦受到各國的敬重。

希西迦的疾病和驕傲

24那時,希西迦病危,他向耶和華祈求。耶和華應允了他,賜給他一個徵兆。 25希西迦卻沒有為他所蒙的恩典而感謝上帝,因為他心中驕傲。因此,上帝的烈怒臨到他、猶大耶路撒冷26後來希西迦耶路撒冷的居民發覺自己心裡驕傲,就謙卑下來。因此,在希西迦有生之年,耶和華的烈怒沒有臨到他們。

希西迦的財富和尊榮

27希西迦極有財富和尊榮。他建造庫房來存放他的金、銀、寶石、香料、盾牌和各種珍寶, 28又建造倉庫來貯藏穀物、新酒和新油,並為各類牲畜蓋棚立圏。 29他為自己建造城邑,並且擁有大批的牛羊,因為上帝賜他極多的財富。 30他截斷基訓的上泉,將水引到大衛城的西邊。希西迦凡事亨通。 31然而,當巴比倫的使者來見他,詢問他有關這地方發生的奇蹟時,上帝就讓希西迦自行處理,為要試驗他,好知道他內心如何。

希西迦逝世

32希西迦其他的事蹟和他對耶和華的忠誠都記在亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞先知的《啟示書》上,以及《猶大和以色列的列王史》上。 33希西迦與祖先同眠後,葬在大衛子孫墓地的高處。所有猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民都向他致哀。他兒子瑪拿西繼位。