²² Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him^[a] went to speak to the prophet^(A) Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath,^[b] the son of Hasrah,^[c] keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

²³ She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ²⁴ ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster^(B) on this place and its people^(C)—all the curses^(D) written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. ²⁵ Because they have forsaken me^(E) and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made,^[d] my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’ ²⁶ Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: ²⁷ Because your heart was responsive^(F) and you humbled^(G) yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. ²⁸ Now I will gather you to your ancestors,^(H) and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”^(I)

So they took her answer back to the king.