1. Ke kaloku wathi akuziva ezi ndaba ukumkani uHezekiya, suka wakhathazeka, wazikrazula izambatho zakhe, wanxiba ezirhwexayo zokuzila, waya kungena endlwini *kaNdikhoyo.
2. Wathuma uEliyakim umaqhuzu wakomkhulu, noShebhena unobhala, kunye nababingeleli abaphambili, bonke benxibe ezirhwexayo, wathi mabaye *kumshumayeli uIsaya unyana ka-Amozi.
3. Baya, bafika bathi: “UHezekiya uthi: ‘Lo ngumhla wenkxwaleko, impoxo, nehlazo. Sifana nomfazi ofikelwe lixesha lakhe lokuzala, kodwa engenawo amandla okujongana naloo meko.
4. Makube uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho uwevile onke amazwi athethwe yingqwayi-ngqwayi leya ibithunywe yinkosi yayo ukumkani waseAsiriya ukuze ize kuphoxisa ngoThixo ophilayo. Ngamana yakhalinyelwa ngenxa yamazwi aweve ngokwakhe *uNdikhoyo uThixo wakho. Ngoko ke nceda uthandazele amasalela asindileyo.’ ”
5. Athe akufika kuIsaya loo maphakathi kakumkani uHezekiya,
6. uIsaya wathi kuwo: “Yixeleleni inkosi yenu ukuba uNdikhoyo uthi: ‘Musa ukuxhalaba yiloo nto uyivileyo – loo mazwi athethwe liphakathi lokumkani waseAsiriya lindithuka.
7. Uyabona ke, mna ndiza kumfaka umoya wokuba athi akuva umingi-mingi lodaba oluthile, asuke abuyele kwelakowabo. Khona apho ke ndiya kwenza ukuba abulawe ngekrele.’ ”
8. Ingqwayi-ngqwayi engumbhexeshi womkhosi yathi yakuva ukuba ukumkani waseAsiriya umkile eLakishe, suka yarhoxa, yabuya umva, yaza yafika ukumkani esilwa neLibhena.
9. Ke uSenakeribhe wafumana udaba oluthi uTiraka, umKushe ongukumkani waseJiputa, nanko ehlasela iAsiriya. Ngoko ke waphinda wathumela kuHezekiya esithi:
10. “Yithi kukumkani uHezekiya wakwaJuda: ‘Musa ukukhohliswa ngulo Thixo wakho umthembileyo. Uyakuxokisa xa esithi: “IJerusalem ayiyi kuthinjwa ngukumkani waseAsiriya.”
11. Kaloku sowuzivile izigigaba zokumkani waseAsiriya kwezinye izizwe; uyazi ukuba wazibhukuqa wazitshabalalisa tu. Ke wena uthi uya kusinda njani?
12. Babephi *oothixo bezizwe ezatshatyalaliswa ngoobawo-mkhulu? Abazihlangula ngani ke? Oothixo baseGozan, eHaran, eRezefe, nabo babantu base-Eden ababeseTelasare!
13. Uphi ngoku ukumkani waseHamati, nowaseArpadi, nokumkani wesixeko saseSefarvayim? Yena owaseHena nowaseIva uphi?’ ”
14. Ezo zigidimi zamnika loo leta uHezekiya, waza ke yena wayifunda, wayithatha waya nayo endlwini *kaNdikhoyo, wafika wayandlala phambi koNdikhoyo.
15. Wathandaza kuNdikhoyo, wathi: “Ndikhoyo, Thixo kaSirayeli, wena osesihlalweni phakathi kwezithunywa ezimaphiko, nguwe kuphela onguThixo olawula zonke izikumkani zehlabathi. Wena wawadala amazulu kwanehlabathi.