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39 In that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent books and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard, that Hezekiah had been sick, and was recovered. (At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard, that Hezekiah had been sick, but now had recovered.)

Forsooth Hezekiah was glad on them, and showed to them the cell(s) of sweet smelling spices, and of silver, and of gold, and of smelling things, and of best ointment, and all the shops of his purtenance of household, and all things that were found in his treasures; no word was, which Hezekiah showed not to them in his house, and in all his power. (And Hezekiah welcomed the messengers, and showed them the rooms for the sweet smelling spices, and the rooms for the silver, and the gold, and the best perfumes, and all the shops of his purtenance of household, and everything that was found among his treasures; yea, there was nothing, which Hezekiah did not show them in his house, and of all his power.)

Soothly Isaiah, the prophet, entered to king Hezekiah (And the prophet Isaiah went in to King Hezekiah), and said to him, What said these men, and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah said, From a far land they came to me, from Babylon.

And Isaiah said, What saw they in thine house? And Hezekiah said, They saw all things that be in mine house; nothing was in my treasures, which I showed not to them.

And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear thou the word of the Lord of hosts.

Lo! days shall come, and all things that be in thine house, and which things thy fathers treasured till to this day (and which things thy forefathers treasured unto this day), shall be taken away into Babylon; not anything shall be left, saith the Lord.

And they shall take [away] of thy sons, that shall go out of thee, which thou shalt engender; and they shall be honest servants and chaste in the palace of the king of Babylon. (And they shall take away some of thy sons, who shall go out of thee, whom thou shalt beget; and they shall be made honest and chaste servants, that is, they shall be made eunuchs, to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon.)

And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, The word of the Lord is good, which he spake. And Hezekiah said, Peace and truth be made only in my days. (And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, The word of the Lord is good, which he spoke. And Hezekiah said, Let there be only peace and truth in my days.)

Envoys From Babylon(A)

39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon(B) sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys(C) gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold,(D) the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.(E) There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”

“From a distant land,(F)” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”

The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word(G) of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon.(H) Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.(I)

“The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,(J)” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.(K)

39 At that time Merodachbaladan, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.