20
Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), "I have counsel and strength for the war." Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all who trust in him.
22
But if ye say unto me, "We trust in the LORD our God," is not that He, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, "Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem"?
23
Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24
How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
25
Have I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, "Go up against this land and destroy it."'"
26
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, "Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it; and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people who are on the wall."
27
But Rabshakeh said unto them, "Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? Hath he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?"
28
Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language and spoke, saying, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!
29
Thus saith the king: `Let not Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand.
30
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, "The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria."'