Isaiah Prophesies That Jerusalem Will Be Saved
1When King Hezekiah heard what the field commander had said, he tore his clothes. He put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. Then he went into the Lord’s temple. 2Hezekiah sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. He also sent the leading priests and Shebna the secretary to him. All of them were wearing rough clothing. 3They told Isaiah, “Hezekiah says, ‘Today we’re in great trouble. The Lord is warning us. He’s bringing shame on us. Sometimes babies come to the moment when they should be born. But their mothers aren’t strong enough to give birth to them. Today we are like those mothers. We aren’t strong enough to save ourselves. 4Perhaps the Lord your God will hear everything the field commander has said. His master, the king of Assyria, has sent him to make fun of the living God. Maybe the Lord your God will punish him for what he has heard him say. So pray for the remaining people who are still alive here.’ ”
5King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah. 6Then he said to them, “Tell your master, ‘The Lord says, “Do not be afraid of what you have heard. The officers who are under the king of Assyria have spoken evil things against me. 7Listen! I will send him news from his own country. It will make him want to return home. There I will have him cut down by a sword.” ’ ”
8The field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. So the commander pulled his troops back from Jerusalem. He went to join the king. He found out that the king was fighting against Libnah.
9During that time Sennacherib received a report. He was told that Tirhakah was marching out to fight against him. Tirhakah was the king of Cush. When Sennacherib heard the report, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah with a letter. It said, 10“Tell Hezekiah, the king of Judah, ‘Don’t let the god you depend on trick you. He says, “Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.” But don’t believe him. 11I’m sure you have heard about what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries. They have destroyed them completely. So do you think you will be saved? 12The kings who ruled before me destroyed many nations. Did the gods of those nations save them? Did the gods of Gozan, Harran or Rezeph save them? What about the gods of the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? 13Where is the king of Hamath? Where is the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?’ ”
Hezekiah Prays to the Lord
14When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, he read it. Then he went up to the Lord’s temple. There he spread the letter out in front of the Lord. 15Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. He said, 16“Lord who rules over all, you are the God of Israel. You sit on your throne between the cherubim. You alone are God over all the kingdoms on earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17Listen, Lord. Hear us. Open your eyes, Lord. Look at the trouble we’re in. Listen to what Sennacherib is saying. You are the living God. And he dares to make fun of you!
18“Lord, it’s true that the kings of Assyria have completely destroyed many nations and their lands. 19They have thrown the statues of the gods of those nations into the fire. And they have destroyed them. That’s because they weren’t really gods at all. They were nothing but statues made out of wood and stone. They were made by human hands. 20Lord our God, save us from the power of Sennacherib. Then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you are the only God.”
Sennacherib Falls From Power
21Isaiah sent a message to Hezekiah. Isaiah said, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘You have prayed to me about Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. 22So here is the message the Lord has spoken against him. The Lord is telling him,
“ ‘ “You will not win the battle over Zion.
Its people hate you and make fun of you.
The people of Jerusalem lift up their heads proudly
as you run away.
23Who have you laughed at?
Who have you spoken evil things against?
Who have you raised your voice against?
Who have you looked at so proudly?
You have done it against me.
I am the Holy One of Israel!
24Through your messengers
you have laughed at me again and again.
And you have said,
‘I have many chariots.
With them I have climbed to the tops of the mountains.
I’ve climbed the highest mountains in Lebanon.
I’ve cut down its tallest cedar trees.
I’ve cut down the best of its juniper trees.
I’ve reached its farthest mountains.
I’ve reached its finest forests.
25I’ve dug wells in other lands.
I’ve drunk the water from them.
I’ve walked through all the streams of Egypt.
I’ve dried up every one of them.’
26“ ‘ “But I, the Lord, say, ‘Haven’t you heard what I have done?
Long ago I arranged for you to do this.
In days of old I planned it.
Now I have made it happen.
You have turned cities with high walls
into piles of stone.
27Their people do not have any power left.
They are troubled and put to shame.
They are like plants in the field.
They are like new green plants.
They are like grass that grows on a roof.
It dries up before it is completely grown.
28“ ‘ “ ‘But I know where you are.
I know when you come and go.
I know how very angry you are with me.
29You roar against me and brag.
And I have heard your bragging.
So I will put my hook in your nose.
I will put my bit in your mouth.
And I will make you go home
by the same way you came.’ ” ’ ”
30The Lord said, “Hezekiah, here is a sign for you.
“This year you will eat what grows by itself.
Next year you will eat what grows from that.
But in the third year you will plant your crops and gather them in.
You will plant your grapevines and eat their fruit.
31The people of the kingdom of Judah who are still alive will be like plants.
Once more they will put down roots and produce fruit.
32Out of Jerusalem will come the people who remain.
Out of Mount Zion will come those who are still left alive.
My great love will make sure that happens.
I rule over all.
33“Here is a message from me about the king of Assyria. I say,
“ ‘He will not enter this city.
He will not even shoot an arrow at it.
He will not come near it with a shield.
He will not build a ramp in order to climb over its walls.
34By the way that he came he will go home.
He will not enter this city,’
announces the Lord.
35‘I will guard this city and save it.
I will do it for myself.
And I will do it for my servant David.’ ”
36Then the angel of the Lord went into the camp of the Assyrians. He put to death 185,000 soldiers there. The people of Jerusalem got up the next morning. They looked out and saw all the dead bodies. 37So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, took the army tents down. Then he left. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
38One day Sennacherib was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok. His sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with their swords. Then they escaped to the land of Ararat. Esarhaddon became the next king after his father Sennacherib.
Sumangguni si Haring Hezekia kay Isaias
(2 Hari 19:1-7)
1Nang marinig ni Haring Hezekia ang balita, pinunit niya ang kanyang damit, nagdamit siya ng sako para ipakita ang kalungkutan niya, at pumunta siya sa templo ng Panginoon para manalangin. 2Pinapunta niya kay Propeta Isaias na anak ni Amoz sina Eliakim na tagapamahala ng palasyo, Shebna na kalihim at ang mga punong pari na nakadamit ng sako.
3Pagdating nila kay Isaias, sinabi nila sa kanya, “Ito ang sinabi ni haring Hezekia: Ito ang panahon ng paghihirap, pagtutuwid at kahihiyan. Katulad tayo ng isang babae na malapit nang manganak na wala ng lakas para iluwal ang kanyang sanggol. 4Ipinadala ng hari ng Asiria ang kumander ng kanyang mga sundalo para kutyain ang Dios na buhay. Baka sakaling narinig ng Panginoon na iyong Dios ang sinabi ng kumander at parusahan ito sa sinabi niya. Kaya ipanalangin mo ang mga natira sa atin.”
5Nang dumating ang mga opisyal, na ipinadala ni Haring Hezekia kay Isaias, 6sinabi ni Isaias sa kanila, “Sabihin ninyo sa inyong amo na ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon: ‘Huwag kang matakot sa narinig mong paglapastangan sa akin ng mga tauhan ng hari ng Asiria. 7Pakinggan mo! Pupuspusin ko ng espiritu ang hari ng Asiria. Makakarinig siya ng balita na magpapabalik sa kanya sa sarili niyang bansa. At doon ko siya ipapapatay sa pamamagitan ng espada.’ ”
Muling Pinagbantaan ng Asiria ang Juda
(2 Hari 19:8-19)
8Nang marinig ng kumander na umalis na sa Lakish ang hari ng Asiria at kasalukuyang nakikipaglaban sa Libna, pumunta siya roon. 9Nang makatanggap ng balita si Haring Senakerib ng Asiria na lulusubin sila ni Haring Tirhaka ng Etiopia, nagsugo siya ng mga mensahero kay Hezekia para sabihin ito: 10“Huwag kang magpaloko sa inaasahan mong Dios kapag sinabi niya, ‘Hindi ipapaubaya ang Jerusalem sa kamay ng hari ng Asiria. 11Makinig ka! Narinig mo kung ano ang ginawa ng mga hari ng Asiria sa halos lahat ng bansa. Nilipol sila nang lubusan. Sa palagay mo ba makakaligtas ka? 12Nailigtas ba ang mga bansang ito ng dios nila? Ang mga lungsod ng Gozan, Haran, Reshef at ang mga mamamayan ng Eden na nasa Tel Asar ay nilipol ng mga ninuno ko. 13May nagawa ba ang hari ng Hamat, Arpad, Sefarvaim, Hena at Iva?’ ”
Ang Panalangin ni Hezekia
14Nang makuha ni Hezekia ang sulat mula sa mensahero, binasa niya ito. Pumunta siya sa templo ng Panginoon at inilapag ang sulat sa presensya ng Panginoon. 15Pagkatapos, nanalangin siya, 16“Panginoon, Dios ng Israel na nakaupo sa trono sa pagitan ng mga kerubin, kayo lang po ang Dios na namamahala sa lahat ng kaharian dito sa mundo. Nilikha ninyo ang kalangitan at ang mundo. 17Panginoon, pakinggan nʼyo po ako, at tingnan nʼyo ang mga nangyari. O buhay na Dios, pakinggan nʼyo ang mga sinabi ni Senakerib na lumapastangan sa inyo. 18Panginoon, totoo po na nilipol ng mga hari ng Asiria ang maraming mamamayan at mga lupain nila. 19Winasak nila ang mga dios-diosan ng mga ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtapon ng mga ito sa apoy. Dahil hindi po ito mga totoong dios, kundi mga bato at kahoy lang na ginawa ng tao. 20Kaya, Panginoon naming Dios, iligtas po ninyo kami sa kamay ng Asiria, para malaman ng lahat ng kaharian dito sa mundo na kayo lang, Panginoon, ang Dios.”
21Pagkatapos, nagpadala si Isaias na anak ni Amoz ng ganitong mensahe kay Hezekia: Ito ang sinabi ng Panginoon, ang Dios ng Israel: Dahil nanalangin ka tungkol kay Haring Senakerib ng Asiria, 22ito ang sinabi ko laban sa kanya: “Pinagtatawanan at iniinsulto ka ng mga naninirahan sa Zion, ang lungsod ng Jerusalem. Umiiling-iling sila sa paghamak sa iyo habang nakatalikod ka. 23Sino ba ang hinahamak at nilalapastangan mo? Sino ang pinagtataasan mo ng boses at pinagyayabangan mo? Hindi baʼt ako, ang Banal na Dios ng Israel? 24Kinutya mo ako sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga sugo. Sinabi mo pa, ‘Sa pamamagitan ng aking maraming karwahe naakyat ko ang matataas na mga bundok pati ang tuktok ng bundok ng Lebanon. Pinutol ko ang pinakamataas na mga puno ng sedro at natatanging sipres37:24 sipres: o, pine tree. nito. Nakarating ako sa tuktok na may makapal na kagubatan. 25Naghukay ako ng balon sa ibang mga lugar37:25 sa ibang mga lugar: Ito ang nasa Dead Sea Scrolls, pero wala sa tekstong Masoretic. at uminom ng tubig mula rito. Sa pagdaan ko, natuyo ang mga sapa sa Egipto.’
26“Totoo ngang winasak mo ang mga napapaderang lungsod. Pero hindi mo ba alam na matagal ko nang itinakda iyon? Mula pa noon, naplano ko na ito at ngayon ginagawa ko na ito. 27Ang mga mamamayan ng mga lungsod na iyong nilipol ay nawalan ng lakas. Natakot sila at napahiya. Para silang mga damo sa parang na madaling malanta, o mga damong tumutubo sa bubungan ng bahay na pagkatapos tumubo ay nalanta rin agad.
28“Pero alam ko ang lahat tungkol sa iyo,
kung saan ka nananatili, kung saan ka galing, kung saan ka pupunta, at kung gaano katindi ang galit mo sa akin. 29Dahil narinig ko ang galit mo at ang pagmamayabang sa akin, lalagyan ko ng kawit ang ilong mo, at bubusalan ko ang bibig mo, at hihilahin ka pabalik sa iyong pinagmulan, sa daan na iyong tinahak.”
30Sinabi pa ni Isaias kay Hezekia, “Ito ang tanda na iingatan ng Panginoon ang Jerusalem sa mga taga-Asiria: Sa taon na ito, ang mga bunga ng mga tanim na kusang tumutubo lang ang kakainin ninyo. At sa susunod na taon, ang mga bunga naman ng mga tanim na tumubo mula sa mga dating tanim lang ang kakainin ninyo. Pero sa ikatlong taon, makakapagtanim na kayo ng trigo at makakaani. Makakapagtanim na rin kayo ng mga ubas at makakakain ng mga bunga nito. 31At ang mga natirang buhay sa Juda ay muling uunlad, katulad ng tanim na nagkakaugat ng malalim at namumunga. 32Sapagkat may mga matitirang buhay na mangangalat mula sa Jerusalem, sa Bundok ng Zion. Titiyakin ng Panginoong Makapangyarihan na itoʼy magaganap.
33“Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon tungkol sa hari ng Asiria: Hindi siya makakapasok sa lungsod ng Jerusalem, ni hindi nga siya makakapana kahit isang palaso rito. Hindi siya makakalapit na may pananggalang o kayaʼy mapapaligiran ang lungsod para lusubin ito. 34Babalik siya sa pinanggalingan niya, sa daan na kanyang tinahak. Ako, ang Panginoon ay nagsasabing, hindi siya makakapasok sa lungsod na ito. 35Iingatan at ililigtas ko ang lungsod na ito para sa karangalan ko at dahil sa pangako ko kay David na aking lingkod.”
36Pumunta ang anghel ng Panginoon sa kampo ng Asiria at pinatay niya ang 185,000 kawal. Kinaumagahan, paggising ng mga natitirang buhay, nakita nila ang napakaraming bangkay. 37Dahil dito, umuwi si Senakerib sa Nineve at doon na tumira.
38Isang araw, habang sumasamba si Senakerib sa templo ng dios niyang si Nisroc, pinatay siya ng kanyang dalawang anak na lalaki na sina Adramelec at Sharezer sa pamamagitan ng espada at tumakas ang mga ito papunta sa Ararat. At ang anak niyang si Esarhadon ang pumalit sa kanya bilang hari.
