1 At that time, Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and asked him, "What did these men say? From where did they come to you?"

Hezekiah said, "They have come from a country far from me, even from Babylon."

4 Then he asked, "What have they seen in your house?"

Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up until today, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. 7 ‘They will take away your sons who will issue from you, whom you shall father, and they will be eunuchs in the king of Babylon’s palace.’"

8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The LORD’s word which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "For there will be peace and truth in my days."

1 Pouco tempo depois o rei da Babilónia (Merodaque-Baladã, filho de Baladã) mandou um presente a Ezequias, acompanhado dos seus melhores votos, porque tinha ouvido dizer que Ezequias estivera muito doente e que já estava restabelecido.

2 Ezequias apreciou isto muito e quis levar os delegados de Babilónia a visitar o seu palácio, mostrando-lhes inclusivamente a casa do tesouro, cheia de peças de prata e de ouro, assim como 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 veio até ao rei e disse-lhe: Donde vieram esses homens? Que foi que te disseram? Vieram de muito longe. Vieram de Babilónia, respondeu Ezequias.

4 Que foi que eles visitaram? Tudo. Viram tudo o que tenho, inclusivamente os meus tesouros valiosos.

5 Ouve-me, disse-lhe então Isaías, dá atenção à palavra do Senhor dos exércitos do céu:

6 Vai chegar o dia em que tudo o que tens, incluindo esses tesouros que teus antepassados acumularam, serão transportados para Babilónia. Nada será deixado. E haverá até alguns dos teus filhos que serão feitos escravos, sim eunucos, no palácio do rei de Babilónia.

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