Bābeles sūtņu laipnā uzņemšana
(2Ķēn 20:12–19)1 Tajā laikā Bābeles ķēniņš Merodah-Baladāns, Baladāna dēls, sūtīja Hizkijam vēstules un dāvanas, jo viņš bija dzirdējis, ka tas sasirdzis un atkal atlabis. 2 Hizkija priecājās par to un izrādīja visu savu dārgumu krātuvi – sudrabu, zeltu, smaržvielas un dārgo eļļu – un visu savu ieroču namu, un visu, kas vien atradās viņa mantnīcā, – Hizkijas namā nebija lietas, ko viņš no visiem saviem labumiem nebūtu parādījis.
3 Tad pravietis Jesaja nāca pie ķēniņa Hizkijas un sacīja: “Ko teica šie vīri, un no kurienes tie pie tevis nākuši?” Hizkija sacīja: “Tie atnākuši pie manis no tālas zemes, no Bābeles!” 4 Un Jesaja teica: “Ko tie redzēja tavā namā?” Hizkija sacīja: “Tie redzēja visu, kas ir manā namā; manā mantnīcā nav nekā, ko tie nebūtu redzējuši!”
5 Jesaja teica Hizkijam: “Klausies Pulku Kunga vārdus: 6 redzi, nāk dienas, kad uz Bābeli aiznesīs visu, kas tavā namā un ko tavi tēvi krājuši līdz šai dienai, neatliks nekā, tā saka Kungs, 7 un tavus dēlus, kas tev dzimuši, ņems par einuhiem Bābeles ķēniņa pilī!” 8 Un Hizkija teica Jesajam: “Labs ir Kunga vārds, ko tu sacīji!” – jo viņš domāja: “Manas dzīves laikā būs miers un drošība!”
Messengers from Babylonia
(2 Kings 20.12-19)1 About that same time the king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan, son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been sick, so he sent him a letter and a present. 2 Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth—his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them. 3 Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did these messengers come from and what did they say to you?”
Hezekiah answered, “They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia.”
4 “What did they see in the palace?”
“They saw everything. There is nothing in the storerooms that I didn't show them.”
5 Isaiah then told the king, “The Lord Almighty says that 6 a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left. 7 Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia.”
8 King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, “The message you have given me from the Lord is good.”
