1 After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem,3 he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him.4 A large force of men assembled, and they blocked all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" they said.5 Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.6 He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words:7 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.9 Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:10 "This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege?11 When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst.12 Did not Hezekiah himself remove this god's high places and altars, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it'?13 "Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand?14 Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand?15 Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!"16 Sennacherib's officers spoke further against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah.17 The king also wrote letters insulting the LORD, the God of Israel, and saying this against him: "Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand."18 Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city.19 They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world-the work of men's hands.20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.21 And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.22 So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on he was highly regarded by all the nations.24 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.25 But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.26 Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.27 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables.28 He also made buildings to store the harvest of grain, new wine and oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks.29 He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches.30 It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook.31 But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.32 The other events of Hezekiah's reign and his acts of devotion are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.33 Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David's descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.

1 Post qu et hujuscemodi veritatem, venit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum, et ingressus Judam, obsedit civitates munitas, volens eas capere. 2 Quod cum vidisset Ezechias, venisse scilicet Sennacherib, et totum belli impetum verti contra Jerusalem, 3 inito cum principibus consilio, virisque fortissimis, ut obturarent capita fontium qui erant extra urbem : et hoc omnium decernente sententia, 4 congregavit plurimam multitudinem, et obturaverunt cunctos fontes, et rivum qui fluebat in medio terr, dicentes : Ne veniant reges Assyriorum, et inveniant aquarum abundantiam. 5 dificavit quoque, agens industrie, omnem murum qui fuerat dissipatus, et exstruxit turres desuper, et forinsecus alterum murum : instauravitque Mello in civitate David, et fecit universi generis armaturam et clypeos : 6 constituitque principes bellatorum in exercitu, et convocavit universos in platea port civitatis, ac locutus est ad cor eorum, dicens : 7 Viriliter agite, et confortamini : nolite timere, nec paveatis regem Assyriorum, et universam multitudinem qu est cum eo : multo enim plures nobiscum sunt, quam cum illo. 8 Cum illo enim est brachium carneum : nobiscum Dominus Deus noster, qui auxiliator est noster, pugnatque pro nobis. Confortatusque est populus hujuscemodi verbis Ezechi regis Juda.9 Qu postquam gesta sunt, misit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum servos suos in Jerusalem (ipse enim cum universo exercitu obsidebat Lachis) ad Ezechiam regem Juda, et ad omnem populum qui erat in urbe, dicens : 10 Hc dicit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum : In quo habentes fiduciam sedetis obsessi in Jerusalem ? 11 num Ezechias decipit vos, ut tradat morti in fame et siti, affirmans quod Dominus Deus vester liberet vos de manu regis Assyriorum ? 12 Numquid non iste est Ezechias, qui destruxit excelsa illius, et altaria, et prcepit Juda et Jerusalem, dicens : Coram altari uno adorabitis, et in ipso comburetis incensum ? 13 an ignoratis qu ego fecerim, et patres mei, cunctis terrarum populis ? numquid prvaluerunt dii gentium, omniumque terrarum, liberare regionem suam de manu mea ? 14 Quis est de universis diis gentium, quas vastaverunt patres mei, qui potuerit eruere populum suum de manu mea, ut possit etiam Deus vester eruere vos de hac manu ? 15 non vos ergo decipiat Ezechias, nec vana persuasione deludat, neque credatis ei. Si enim nullus potuit deus cunctarum gentium atque regnorum liberare populum suum de manu mea, et de manu patrum meorum, consequenter nec Deus vester poterit eruere vos de manu mea. 16 Sed et alia multa locuti sunt servi ejus contra Dominum Deum, et contra Ezechiam servum ejus. 17 Epistolas quoque scripsit plenas blasphemi in Dominum Deum Isral, et locutus est adversus eum : Sicut dii gentium ceterarum non potuerunt liberare populum suum de manu mea, sic et Deus Ezechi eruere non poterit populum suum de manu ista. 18 Insuper et clamore magno, lingua judaica, contra populum qui sedebat in muris Jerusalem, personabat, ut terreret eos, et caperet civitatem. 19 Locutusque est contra Deum Jerusalem, sicut adversum deos populorum terr, opera manuum hominum. 20 Oraverunt igitur Ezechias rex, et Isaias filius Amos prophetes, adversum hanc blasphemiam, ac vociferati sunt usque in clum. 21 Et misit Dominus angelum, qui percussit omnem virum robustum, et bellatorem, et principem exercitus regis Assyriorum : reversusque est cum ignominia in terram suam. Cumque ingressus esset domum dei sui, filii qui egressi fuerant de utero ejus interfecerunt eum gladio. 22 Salvavitque Dominus Ezechiam et habitatores Jerusalem de manu Sennacherib regis Assyriorum, et de manu omnium, et prstitit eis quietem per circuitum. 23 Multi etiam deferebant hostias et sacrificia Domino in Jerusalem, et munera Ezechi regi Juda : qui exaltatus est post hc coram cunctis gentibus.24 In diebus illis grotavit Ezechias usque ad mortem, et oravit Dominum : exaudivitque eum, et dedit ei signum. 25 Sed non juxta beneficia qu acceperat, retribuit, quia elevatum est cor ejus : et facta est contra eum ira, et contra Judam et Jerusalem. 26 Humiliatusque est postea, eo quod exaltatum fuisset cor ejus, tam ipse quam habitatores Jerusalem : et idcirco non venit super eos ira Domini in diebus Ezechi. 27 Fuit autem Ezechias dives, et inclytus valde, et thesauros sibi plurimos congregavit argenti, et auri, et lapidis pretiosi, aromatum, et armorum universi generis, et vasorum magni pretii. 28 Apothecas quoque frumenti, vini, et oleo, et prsepia omnium jumentorum, caulasque pecorum, 29 et urbes dificavit sibi : habebat quippe greges ovium et armentorum innumerabiles, eo quod dedisset ei Dominus substantiam multam nimis. 30 Ipse est Ezechias, qui obturavit superiorem fontem aquarum Gihon, et avertit eas subter ad occidentem urbis David : in omnibus operibus suis fecit prospere qu voluit. 31 Attamen in legatione principum Babylonis, qui missi fuerant ad eum ut interrogarent de portento quod acciderat super terram, dereliquit eum Deus ut tentaretur, et nota fierent omnia qu erant in corde ejus. 32 Reliqua autem sermonum Ezechi, et misericordiarum ejus, scripta sunt in visione Isai filii Amos prophet, et in libro regum Juda et Isral. 33 Dormivitque Ezechias cum patribus suis, et sepelierunt eum super sepulchra filiorum David : et celebravit ejus exequias universus Juda, et omnes habitatores Jerusalem : regnavitque Manasses filius ejus pro eo.