⁷ If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted,^(A) torn down and destroyed,

² Hezekiah received the envoys^(A) gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold,^(B) the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.^(C) There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

⁹ And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built^(A) up and planted,

⁸ “‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish^(A) that nation with the sword,^(B) famine^(C) and plague,^(D) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand.

²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians^(A) and enchanters in his whole kingdom.^(B)

³⁹ “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.^(A)