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!

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 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and 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 did not show them.

3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say? And where did they come to you from? And Hezekiah said, They have come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.

4 Then he said, What have they seen in your house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house they have seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I haven't shown them.

5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of Yahweh of hosts:

6 Look, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, will be carried to Babylon: nothing will be left, says Yahweh.

7 And of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will beget, they will take away; and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

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