1Nogen tid senere sendte Merodak-Baladan, som var søn af kong Baladan af Babylonien, nogle sendebud af sted med hilsener og en gave til Hizkija, for Babyloniens konge havde hørt om hans sygdom og helbredelse.2Hizkija var beæret over det fine besøg og viste dem alle sine rigdomme, sit sølv og guld, sine røgelsesstoffer og forskellige aromatiske olier og sit våbenarsenal, ja, der var ikke den ting i hele riget, han ikke viste dem.3Bagefter opsøgte Esajas kong Hizkija og spurgte ham: „Hvor kom de mænd fra, og hvad ville de?” „De kom helt fra Babylonien!” svarede Hizkija.4„Hvad så de i paladset?” spurgte Esajas. „Det hele!” svarede Hizkija. „Jeg viste dem alle mine rigdomme.”5„Hør Herren, den Almægtiges, ord,” sagde Esajas.6„Der kommer en dag, hvor alt i det her palads skal føres bort til Babylonien, både de rigdomme, du selv har samlet, og det, dine forfædre har samlet—intet vil blive tilbage.7Nogle af dine egne efterkommere vil blive bortført og gjort til tjenere ved den babyloniske konges hof.”8„Det er godt at høre fra Herren,” sagde Hizkija. Han tænkte ved sig selv: „Der er i det mindste fred og ro, så længe jeg lever.”
1At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. (2.Kong 20,12; 2.Krøn 32,31)2And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. (2.Kong 18,15; 2.Krøn 32,25)3Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.”4He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:6Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. (2.Kong 24,13; 2.Kong 25,13)7And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” (Dan 1,2; Dan 1,7)8Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.” (2.Krøn 32,26)