1 Tanī laikā sūtīja Bābeles ķēniņš Merodachs-Baladans, Baladana dēls, apsveikumu un dāvanas Hiskijam; viņš esot dzirdējis, ka Hiskija bijis slims un atkal vesels kļuvis.
2 Hiskija priecājās par to un rādīja sūtņiem savu mantas noliktavu, sudrabu un zeltu, smalkas smaržu vielas, dārgo eļļu, visu savu ieroču namu, visas savas mantas, kas atradās noliktavās. Nekā nebija viņa pilī un viņa valstī, ko viņš tiem nebūtu rādījis.
3 Tad pravietis Jesaja gāja pie ķēniņa Hiskijas un tam jautāja: „Ko tev teica šie vīri un no kurienes tie nākuši?“ Hiskija atbildēja: „Tie atnākuši no tālas zemes, no Bābeles.“
4 Tad viņš jautāja: „Ko tie redzēja tavā pilī?“ Hiskija teica: „Tie redzēja visu, kas ir manā pilī. Es tiem rādīju visu, kas ir manās mantu noliktavās.“
5 Tad Jesaja teica Hiskijam: „Klausies tā Kunga Cebaota vārdu:
6 Redzi, nāks dienas, kad visu, kas tavā pilī un ko tavi tēvi krājuši līdz šai dienai, aizvedīs uz Bābeli un nekā neatstās! —tā saka tas Kungs.
7 Un dažus no taviem miesīgiem dēliem, kas tev piedzims, paņems, lai viņi kalpotu kā galminieki Bābeles ķēniņa pilī.“
8 Tad Hiskija atbildēja Jesajam: „Labs ir tā Kunga vārds, ko tu man sacīji!“ Viņš domāja: „Miers un drošība būs manas dzīves laikā.“
Isaiah Speaks the Lord's Message to Hezekiah
(2 Kings 20.12-19)1 Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, was now king of Babylonia. And when he learned that Hezekiah was well, he sent messengers with letters and a gift for him. 2 Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them all the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oils that were in his storehouse. He even showed them where he kept his weapons. Nothing in his palace or in his entire kingdom was kept hidden from them.
3 I asked Hezekiah, “Where did these men come from? What did they want?”
“They came all the way from Babylonia,” Hezekiah answered.
4 “What did you show them?” I asked.
Hezekiah answered, “I showed them everything in my kingdom.”
5 Then I told Hezekiah:
I have a message for you from the Lord All-Powerful. 6 One day everything you and your ancestors have stored up will be taken to Babylonia. The Lord has promised that nothing will be left. 7 Some of your own sons will be taken to Babylonia, where they will be disgraced and made to serve in the king's palace.
8 Hezekiah thought, “At least our nation will be at peace for a while.” So he told me, “The message you brought from the Lord is good.”
