Izithunywa ezivela kuMerodaki Baladani

1 Ngaleso sikhathi uMerodaki Baladani indodana kaBaladani inkosi yaseBabele wathuma abanezincwadi nesipho kuHezekiya, lapho ezwile ukuthi kade egula, kepha usesimamile.

2 UHezekiya wathokoza ngabo, wababonisa indlu yengcebo yakhe, isiliva, negolide, namakha, namafutha amahle, nayo yonke indlu yezikhali zakhe, nakho konke okwafunyanwa engcebeni yakhe; akubangakho nto endlini yakhe nasembusweni wakhe wonke uHezekiya angababonisanga yona.

3 Wayesefika u-Isaya, umprofethi, enkosini uHezekiya, wathi kuye: “Batheni labo bantu; beze kuwe bevelaphi na?”

Wathi uHezekiya: “Bavela ezweni elikude, iBabele, beze kimi.”

4 Wayesethi: “Baboneni endlini yakho na?”

UHezekiya wathi: “Babone konke okusendlini yami; akukho nto phakathi kwengcebo yami engingababonisanga yona.”

5 U-Isaya wathi kuHezekiya: “Yizwa izwi likaJehova Sebawoti.

6 Bheka, izinsuku ziyeza, lapho konke okusendlini yakho nalokho oyihlo abakubekelele khona kuze kube namuhla kuyakuyiswa eBabele; akuyikusala lutho, usho uJehova.

7 Nasemadodaneni akho ayakuphuma kuwe, oyakuwazala, bayakuwathatha abe yizinceku endlini yobukhosi yenkosi yaseBabele.”

8 Wayesethi uHezekiya ku-Isaya: “Lihle izwi likaJehova olikhulumileyo.” Wathi futhi: “Ngokuba kuyakuba khona ukuthula nokulondeka emihleni yami.”