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2 Kings

Continues the story of the divided kingdoms, their decline, and eventual exile.

Chapter 20

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1 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.

In that time, Hezekiah was very ill. Then, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, visited him and said, "The Lord says, organize your life because you will die and won't live anymore."

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

Then he faced the wall and prayed to God, 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.

I ask you, Lord, don't forget how I have always followed you honestly and with all my heart, doing what you think is right. Hezekiah cried a lot.

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,

Then, before Isaiah even left for the central courtyard, the Lord's message reached him and said,

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.

"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, this message from God, the God of your father David: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you. On the third day, you will go back to the Lord's house."

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.

I will give you 15 more years. I will save you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will protect this city for my own reasons 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.

Isaiah told them to use figs for the sore. They did, and the person got better.

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?

Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "What will show that God will heal me and I can return to the Lord's house on 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?

Isaiah said, "This is a sign from God. He will do what he has promised. Will the shadow move forward 10 degrees or go backward 10 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.

Hezekiah replied, "It's easy for the shadow to move down ten steps. But I want it to go back and move up ten steps instead."

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.

Isaiah the prophet called out to God, and God made the shadow move back 10 degrees on Ahaz's sundial.

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.

At that time, Berodachbaladan, who was the son of Baladan and ruler of Babylon, sent a letter and a gift to Hezekiah because he heard that Hezekiah was unwell.

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.

Hezekiah listened to them and showed them everything valuable in his home - silver, gold, spices, special oil, and all his armor. He also showed them everything in his treasures. There was nothing in his house or his kingdom that he didn't show them.

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.

Then, Isaiah the prophet talked to King Hezekiah and asked, "What do these men say, and where did they come from?" Hezekiah replied, "They came from a very far place called 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.

He asked, "What did they see in your home?" Hezekiah replied, "They saw everything inside. I showed them all my treasures."

16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.

And Isaiah told Hezekiah, Listen to God's message.

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.

Look, the time will come when everything in your home, and everything your ancestors stored away, will be taken to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says 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.

From your children born to you, some will be taken away and made eunuchs in the king of Babylon's palace.

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?

Then Hezekiah told Isaiah, "The Lord's message you shared is great." He asked, "Isn't it good if peace and honesty are present during my lifetime?"

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?

And the other things Hezekiah did, his strength, and how he created a pool, a water channel, and brought water to the city - can't you find them in the records of the Judah kings' books?

21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Hezekiah passed away and joined his ancestors; his son Manasseh then took over as king.

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