2 Chronicles 32

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

1After Hezekiah had done these faithful things, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He set up camp against the fortified cities, intending to conquer them for himself.

2And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,

2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had arrived and intended to attack Jerusalem,

3he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him.

3he consulted with his officials and military leaders about stopping the flow of the springs outside the city, and they supported him.

4So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?

4A large group of people gathered and blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. They said, 'Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?'

5And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall without, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.

5Hezekiah worked hard to repair all the broken sections of the wall and built towers on it. He also built another wall outside the first one, strengthened the Millo in the City of David, and manufactured a large number of weapons and shields.

6And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

6He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them in the square by the city gate. He encouraged them, saying,

7Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him:

7'Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the huge army with him. There is a power with us that is greater than the power with him.'

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

8'He only has human strength, but we have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.' The people were encouraged by these words from Hezekiah, king of Judah.

9After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him), unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,

9Later, while King Sennacherib of Assyria and all his royal forces were besieging Lachish, he sent his officials to Jerusalem with a message for Hezekiah, king of Judah, and for all the people of Judah in the city:

10Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide the siege in Jerusalem?

10'This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you stay in Jerusalem while it is under attack?'

11Doth not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

11'Is Hezekiah misleading you and leaving you to die of hunger and thirst? He tells you, "The LORD our God will save us from 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 upon it shall ye burn incense?

12'Isn’t this the same Hezekiah who removed your God’s shrines and altars, telling Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship at only one altar and burn sacrifices on it"?'

13Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand?

13'Don’t you know what I and my predecessors have done to all the other nations? Were the gods of those nations ever able to save their lands from me?'

14Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?

14'Which of all the gods of these nations that my ancestors destroyed was able to save his people from me? So why do you think your God can save you from my power?'

15Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe ye him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?

15'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this! Do not believe him! No god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from me or my ancestors. Your God will certainly not be able to save you from me!'

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

16Sennacherib’s officials said even more insulting things against the LORD God and his servant Hezekiah.

17He wrote also letters, to rail on Jehovah, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand.

17The king also wrote letters insulting the LORD, the God of Israel. He wrote, 'Just as the gods of the other nations could not save their people from me, Hezekiah’s God will not save his people from my power.'

18And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.

18The officials shouted this loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall. They did this to terrify the people so they could capture the city.

19And they spake of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.

19They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were just like the gods made by human hands that other people worshiped.

20And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.

20Because of this, King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, cried out to heaven in prayer.

21And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, 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 from his own bowels slew him there with the sword.

21Then the LORD sent an angel who destroyed all the soldiers, leaders, and officers in the Assyrian king's camp. So Sennacherib returned to his own land in disgrace. When he went into the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.

22Thus Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.

22So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all others. He gave them peace on every side.

23And many brought gifts unto Jehovah to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

23Many people brought offerings to the LORD in Jerusalem and valuable gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From then on, he was highly respected by all the nations.

24In those days Hezekiah was sick even unto death: and he prayed unto Jehovah; and he spake unto him, and gave him a sign.

24Around that time, Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.

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.

25But Hezekiah’s heart became proud, and he did not show gratitude for the kindness shown to him. Therefore, God’s anger was against him and against 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 Jehovah came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

26Then Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem humbled themselves and turned from their pride. Because of this, the LORD’S anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.

27And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels;

27Hezekiah became very wealthy and highly honored. He built treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable items.

28store-houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and flocks in folds.

28He also built storehouses for his harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil, as well as stalls for his various types of livestock and folds for his flocks.

29Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much substance.

29He built towns and acquired great numbers of sheep and cattle, for God had given him vast wealth.

30This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

30It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water downward to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he did.

31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire 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.

31However, when ambassadors were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, so that everything in his heart would be revealed.

32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

32The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign and his acts of devotion are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

33And 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 honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

33Hezekiah died and was buried in the upper section of the tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. His son Manasseh became king in his place.