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2 Kings 20
New English Translation
2 Kings 20
New English Translation
Hezekiah is Healed
20 In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness.[a] The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘Give your household instructions, for you are about to die; you will not get well.’”[b] 2 He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you[c] faithfully and with wholehearted devotion,[d] and how I have carried out your will.”[e] Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.[f]
4 Isaiah had not yet left the middle courtyard[g] when the Lord’s message came to him, 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David has said: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. The day after tomorrow[h] you will go up to the Lord’s temple. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life and rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.”’”[i] 7 Isaiah ordered, “Get a fig cake.” So they did as he ordered[j] and placed it on the ulcerated sore, and he recovered.[k]
8 Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What is the confirming sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the Lord’s temple the day after tomorrow?” 9 Isaiah replied, “This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said. Do you want the shadow to move ahead ten steps or to go back ten steps?”[l] 10 Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it[m] to go back ten steps.” 11 Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord, and the Lord[n] made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.[o]
Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah
12 At that time Merodach Baladan[p] son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent messengers with letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill. 13 Hezekiah welcomed[q] them and showed them his whole storehouse, with its silver, gold, spices, and high quality olive oil, as well as his armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom.[r] 14 Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say? Where do they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They come from the distant land of Babylon.” 15 Isaiah[s] asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything[t] in my treasuries.” 16 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the Lord’s message, 17 ‘Look, a time is[u] coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 18 ‘Some of your very own descendants whom you father[v] will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 19 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s message which you have announced is appropriate.”[w] Then he added,[x] “At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”[y]
20 The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign and all his accomplishments, including how he built a pool and conduit to bring[z] water into the city, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.[aa] 21 Hezekiah passed away[ab] and his son Manasseh replaced him as king.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 20:1 tn Heb “was sick to the point of dying.”
- 2 Kings 20:1 tn Heb “will not live.”
- 2 Kings 20:3 tn Heb “walked before you.” For a helpful discussion of the background and meaning of this Hebrew idiom, see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 254.
- 2 Kings 20:3 tn Heb “and with a complete heart.”
- 2 Kings 20:3 tn Heb “and that which is good in your eyes I have done.”
- 2 Kings 20:3 tn Heb “wept with great weeping.”
- 2 Kings 20:4 tc “Courtyard” (חָצֵר, khatser) is the reading tradition (Qere) also supported by the LXX, while the written text (Kethib) has הָעִיר (haʿir), “the city.”
- 2 Kings 20:5 tn Heb “on the third day.”
- 2 Kings 20:6 tn Heb “for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.”
- 2 Kings 20:7 tn Heb “and they got [a fig cake].”
- 2 Kings 20:7 tn Heb “and he lived.”
- 2 Kings 20:9 tn The Hebrew הָלַךְ (halakh, a perfect), “it has moved ahead,” should be emended to הֲיֵלֵךְ (hayelekh, an imperfect with interrogative he [ה] prefixed), “shall it move ahead.”
- 2 Kings 20:10 tn Heb “the shadow.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“it”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Kings 20:11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 20:11 tn Heb “made the shadow return, on the steps which [the sun] had gone down, on the steps of Ahaz, back ten steps.” sn These steps probably functioned as a type of sundial. See HALOT 614 s.v. מַעֲלָה and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 256.
- 2 Kings 20:12 tc The MT has “Berodach-Baladan,” but several Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and Latin witnesses agree with the parallel passage in Isa 39:1 and read “Merodach Baladan.”
- 2 Kings 20:13 tc Heb “listened to.” Some Hebrew mss, as well as the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate versions agree with the parallel passage in Isa 39:2 and read, “was happy with.”
- 2 Kings 20:13 tn Heb “there was nothing which Hezekiah did not show them in his house and in all his kingdom.”
- 2 Kings 20:15 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 20:15 tn Heb “there was not a thing that I did not show them.”
- 2 Kings 20:17 tn Heb “days are.”
- 2 Kings 20:18 tn Heb “Some of your sons, who go out from you, whom you father.”
- 2 Kings 20:19 tn Heb “good.”
- 2 Kings 20:19 tn Heb “and he said.” Many English versions translate, “for he thought.” The verb אָמַר (ʾamar), “say,” is sometimes used of what one thinks (that is, says to oneself). Cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT.
- 2 Kings 20:19 tn Heb “Is it not [true] there will be peace and stability in my days?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Yes, there will be peace and stability.”
- 2 Kings 20:20 tn Heb “and he brought.”
- 2 Kings 20:20 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Hezekiah, and all his strength, and how he made a pool and a conduit and brought water to the city, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
- 2 Kings 20:21 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
2 Kings 20
King James Version
2 Kings 20
King James Version
20 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,
3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?
9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all 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.
14 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, even from Babylon.
15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord.
17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.
18 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.
19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 20
English Standard Version
2 Kings 20
English Standard Version
Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery
20 (A)In those days (B)Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, (C)‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, (D)please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and (E)with a whole heart, (F)and have done what is good in your sight.” (G)And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah (H)the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: (I)I have heard your prayer; (J)I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, (K)and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” 7 And Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover.”
8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” 9 And Isaiah said, “This shall be (L)the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow (M)to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” 11 And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, (N)and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.
Hezekiah and the Babylonian Envoys
12 (O)At that time (P)Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, (Q)sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them (R)all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his 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. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”
16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when (S)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. 18 (T)And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, (U)and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, (V)“The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”
20 (W)The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made (X)the pool and the conduit (Y)and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 21 (Z)And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
列王纪下 20
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
列王纪下 20
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
希西家遘疾
20 那时，希西家病得要死。亚摩斯的儿子先知以赛亚去见他，对他说：“耶和华如此说：你当留遗命于你的家，因为你必死，不能活了。” 2 希西家就转脸朝墙，祷告耶和华说： 3 “耶和华啊，求你记念我在你面前怎样存完全的心，按诚实行事，又做你眼中所看为善的。”希西家就痛哭了。 4 以赛亚出来，还没有到中院[a]，耶和华的话就临到他说： 5 “你回去告诉我民的君希西家说：‘耶和华你祖大卫的神如此说：我听见了你的祷告，看见了你的眼泪。我必医治你，到第三日，你必上到耶和华的殿。 6 我必加增你十五年的寿数，并且我要救你和这城脱离亚述王的手。我为自己和我仆人大卫的缘故，必保护这城。’” 7 以赛亚说：“当取一块无花果饼来。”人就取了来，贴在疮上，王便痊愈了。
8 希西家问以赛亚说：“耶和华必医治我，到第三日我能上耶和华的殿，有什么兆头呢？” 9 以赛亚说：“耶和华必成就他所说的。这是他给你的兆头：你要日影向前进十度呢？是要往后退十度呢？” 10 希西家回答说：“日影向前进十度容易，我要日影往后退十度。” 11 先知以赛亚求告耶和华，耶和华就使亚哈斯的日晷向前进的日影往后退了十度。
以府库宝物示巴比伦王之使
12 那时，巴比伦王巴拉但的儿子比罗达巴拉但听见希西家病而痊愈，就送书信和礼物给他。 13 希西家听从使者的话，就把他宝库的金子、银子、香料、贵重的膏油和他武库的一切军器，并他所有的财宝，都给他们看。他家中和他全国之内，希西家没有一样不给他们看的。 14 于是先知以赛亚来见希西家王，问他说：“这些人说什么？他们从哪里来见你？”希西家说：“他们从远方的巴比伦来。” 15 以赛亚说：“他们在你家里看见了什么？”希西家说：“凡我家中所有的，他们都看见了，我财宝中没有一样不给他们看的。”
16 以赛亚对希西家说：“你要听耶和华的话： 17 日子必到，凡你家里所有的，并你列祖积蓄到如今的，都要被掳到巴比伦去，不留下一样。这是耶和华说的。 18 并且从你本身所生的众子，其中必有被掳去，在巴比伦王宫里当太监的。” 19 希西家对以赛亚说：“你所说耶和华的话甚好。若在我的年日中有太平和稳固的景况，岂不是好吗？” 20 希西家其余的事和他的勇力，他怎样挖池挖沟，引水入城，都写在《犹大列王记》上。 21 希西家与他列祖同睡。他儿子玛拿西接续他做王。
Footnotes
- 列王纪下 20:4 “院”或作“城”。
2 Kings 20
New International Version
2 Kings 20
New International Version
Hezekiah’s Illness(A)
20 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Remember,(B) Lord, how I have walked(C) before you faithfully(D) and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard(E) your prayer and seen your tears;(F) I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend(G) this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”
7 Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil,(H) and he recovered.
8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord on the third day from now?”
9 Isaiah answered, “This is the Lord’s sign(I) to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?”
10 “It is a simple(J) matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.”
11 Then the prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back(K) the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
Envoys From Babylon(L)(M)
12 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. 13 Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
14 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,” Hezekiah replied. “They came from Babylon.”
15 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.”
16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 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.(N) Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 18 And some of your descendants,(O) 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.”(P)
19 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?”
20 As for the other events of Hezekiah’s reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool(Q) and the tunnel(R) by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 21 Hezekiah rested with his ancestors. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
New English Translation (NET)
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
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Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
New International Version (NIV) 
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