1 Pouco tempo depois, Merodaque-Baladã, filho do rei Baladã da Babilónia, enviou embaixadores com cartas e um presente a Ezequias, porque tinha ouvido dizer que estivera muito doente e que já estava restabelecido. 2 Ezequias apreciou muito este gesto e quis levar os delegados da Babilónia a visitar o seu palácio, mostrando-lhes inclusivamente a casa do tesouro, cheia de peças de prata e de ouro, de especiarias raras e dos melhores perfumes. Levou-os ainda à casa das armas e mostrou-lhes tudo; não lhes escondeu nada; abriu-lhes todas as portas.

3 Então o profeta Isaías foi ter com o rei e disse-lhe: "Donde vieram esses homens? Que foi que te disseram?"

Ezequias respondeu: "Vieram de muito longe! Vieram da Babilónia!"

4 "Que foi que eles viram do teu palácio?", perguntou Isaías.

"Viram tudo! Mostrei-lhes todos os meus tesouros."

5 "Ouve-me!", disse-lhe Isaías. "Dá atenção à palavra do Senhor dos exércitos: 6 Há de vir a altura em que tudo neste palácio será transportado para a Babilónia. Todos os tesouros dos teus antepassados serão levados; nada ficará aqui. 7 Alguns dos teus filhos até serão feitos escravos. Sim, eunucos, do palácio do rei da Babilónia."

8 "Essa é uma boa notícia da parte do Senhor", respondeu Ezequias. Porque pensou: "Pelo menos, haverá paz e segurança durante a minha vida!"

1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.*39.2 precious things: or, spicery*39.2 armour: or, jewels: Heb. vessels, or, instruments

3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.