U-Isaya 37:1-20

Kwathi inkosi uHezekiya ikuzwile lokho, yaklebhula izingubo zayo, yazembesa indwangu yamasaka, yangena endlini kaJehova. Yathuma u-Eliyakimi owayephezu kwendlu, noShebina umbhali, namalunga abapristi, bembeswe izindwangu zamasaka, ku-Isaya umprofethi, indodana ka-Amose. Bathi kuye: “Usho kanje uHezekiya, uthi: Lolu suku lungusuku losizi nolokusolwa nolokudelelwa, ngokuba abantwana sebefikile ekuzalweni, kepha amandla okubeletha awakho. Mhlawumbe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uyakuzwa amazwi kaRabi Shake othunywe yinkosi yase-Asiriya, inkosi yakhe, ukweyisa uNkulunkulu ophilayo, asole amazwi uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho awezwileyo; ngalokho phakamisela insali esafunyanwayo umkhuleko wakho.” Izinceku zenkosi uHezekiya sezifikile ku-Isaya, u-Isaya wathi kuzo: “Niyakusho kanje enkosini yenu, nithi: ‘Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Ungesabi lawo mazwi owezwileyo, izinceku zenkosi yase-Asiriya ezingithuke ngawo. Bhekani, ngiyakubeka umoya kuyo, izwe amahemuhemu, ibuyele ezweni lakubo, ngiyiwise ngenkemba ezweni lakubo.’ ” Wayesebuya uRabi Shake, wafumana inkosi yase-Asiriya ilwa neLibina, ngokuba wayezwile ukuthi isukile eLakishi. Kepha isizwile ngoTirahaka, inkosi yaseKushe, ukuthi: “Uphumile ukulwa nawe,” lapho ikuzwa lokho, yathuma izithunywa kuHezekiya, yathi: “Niyakukhuluma kanje kuHezekiya, inkosi yakwaJuda, nithi: UNkulunkulu wakho omethembayo makangakukhohlisi ngokuthi iJerusalema aliyikunikelwa esandleni senkosi yase-Asiriya. Bheka, wena uzwile okwenziwa ngamakhosi ase-Asiriya kuwo onke amazwe ngokuwachitha; pho, wena uyakophulwa na? Onkulunkulu balezo zizwe ezachithwa ngobaba, iGozani, neHarana, neResefi, nabantwana base-Edene ababeseThelasari bazophula na? Iphi inkosi yaseHamati, nenkosi yase-Aripadi, nenkosi yomuzi waseSefarivayimi, naseHena, nase-Iva na?” UHezekiya wayamukela incwadi esandleni sezithunywa, wayifunda; uHezekiya wayesenyukela endlini kaJehova, wayeneka phambi kukaJehova. UHezekiya wakhuleka phambi kukaJehova, wathi: “Jehova Sebawoti, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ohlezi phezu kwamakherubi,* wena unguNkulunkulu, wena wedwa, wemibuso yonke yomhlaba, wena wenzile izulu nomhlaba. Beka indlebe yakho, Jehova, uzwe; vula amehlo akho, Jehova, ubone, uzwe onke amazwi kaSaneheribi athume ukweyisa ngawo uNkulunkulu ophilayo. “Yiqiniso, Jehova; amakhosi ase-Asiriya achithile izizwe zonke namazwe azo, alahlile onkulunkulu bawo emlilweni, ngokuba babengesibo onkulunkulu, babe ngumsebenzi wezandla zomuntu kuphela, umuthi namatshe; ngalokho abachithile. Manje, Jehova Nkulunkulu wethu, sisindise esandleni sakhe ukuba yonke imibuso yomhlaba yazi ukuthi wena unguJehova, wena wedwa.”