You might spread out your hands toward me when you pray. But I do not look at you. You might even offer many prayers. But I am not listening to them. Your hands are covered with the blood of the people you have murdered.

Moab’s people go to their high place to pray. But all they do is wear themselves out. Their god Chemosh can’t help them at all.

The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague. But then he will heal them. They will turn to the Lord. And he will answer their prayers and heal them.

Lord, when your people were suffering, they came to you. When you punished them, they could barely whisper a prayer.

Perhaps the Lord your God will hear everything the field commander has said. His master, the king of Assyria, has sent him to make fun of the living God. Maybe the Lord your God will punish him for what he has heard him say. So pray for the remaining people who are still alive here.’ ”

Hezekiah Prays to the Lord

When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, he read it. Then he went up to the Lord’s temple. There he spread the letter out in front of the Lord.

Hezekiah prayed to the Lord. He said,

Sennacherib Falls From Power

Isaiah sent a message to Hezekiah. Isaiah said, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘You have prayed to me about Sennacherib, the king of Assyria.

Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall. He prayed to the Lord. He said,

“Go and speak to Hezekiah. Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of King David, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. I will add 15 years to your life.

“Family of Jacob, you have not prayed to me as you should. People of Israel, you have not worn yourselves out for me.

From the rest of the wood he makes a statue. It becomes his god. He bows down and worships it. He prays to it. He says, “Save me! You are my god!”

“Come together, you people of the nations who escaped from Babylon. Gather together and come into court. Only people who do not know anything would carry around gods that are made out of wood. They pray to false gods that can’t save them.

Israel Is Stubborn

People of Jacob, listen to me. You are called by the name of Israel. You come from the family line of Judah. You make promises in the name of the Lord. You pray to Israel’s God. But you aren’t honest. You don’t mean what you say.

Israel Is Brought Back to Their Land

The Lord says to his servant, “When it is time to have mercy on you, I will answer your prayers. When it is time to save you, I will help you. I will keep you safe. You will put into effect my covenant with the people of Israel. Then their land will be made like new again. Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.

Then I will bring them to my holy mountain of Zion. I will give them joy in my house. They can pray there. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices on my altar. My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.”

When you fast, it ends in arguing and fighting. You hit one another with your fists. That is an evil thing to do. The way you are now fasting keeps your prayers from being heard in heaven.

Isaiah Praises the Lord and Prays to Him

I will talk about the kind things the Lord has done. I’ll praise him for everything he’s done for us. He has done many good things for the nation of Israel. That’s because he loves us and is very kind to us.

No one prays to you. No one asks you for help. You have turned your face away from us. You have let us feel the effects of our sins.

The Lord Judges and Saves

The Lord says, “I made myself known to those who were not asking for me. I was found by those who were not trying to find me. I spoke to a nation that did not pray to me. ‘Here I am,’ I said. ‘Here I am.’