The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 And then, after this exemplary track record, this: Sennacherib king of Assyria came and attacked Judah. He put the fortified cities under siege, determined to take them.
1
post quae et huiuscemodi veritatem venit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum et ingressus Iudam obsedit civitates munitas volens eas capere
2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib's strategy was to take Jerusalem,
2
quod cum vidisset Ezechias venisse scilicet Sennacherib et totum belli impetum verti contra Hierusalem
3 he talked to his advisors and military leaders about eliminating all the water supplies outside the city; they thought it was a good idea.
3
inito cum principibus consilio virisque fortissimis ut obturarent capita fontium quae erant extra urbem et hoc omnium decernente sententia
4 There was a great turnout of people to plug the springs and tear down the aqueduct. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria march in and be furnished with running water?"
4
congregavit plurimam multitudinem et obturaverunt cunctos fontes et rivum qui fluebat in medio terrae dicentes ne veniant reges Assyriorum et inveniant aquarum abundantiam
5 Hezekiah also went to work repairing every part of the city wall that was damaged, built defensive towers on it, built another wall of defense further out, and reinforced the defensive rampart (the Millo) of the old City of David. He also built up a large store of armaments - spears and shields.
5
aedificavit quoque agens industrie omnem murum qui fuerat dissipatus et extruxit turres desuper et forinsecus alterum murum instauravitque Mello in civitate David et fecit universi generis armaturam et clypeos
6 He then appointed military officers to be responsible for the people and got them all together at the public square in front of the city gate.
6
constituitque principes bellatorum in exercitu et convocavit universos in platea portae civitatis ac locutus est ad cor eorum dicens
7 "Be strong! Take courage! Don't be intimidated by the king of Assyria and his troops - there are more on our side than on their side.
7
viriliter agite et confortamini nolite timere nec paveatis regem Assyriorum et universam multitudinem quae est cum eo multo enim plures nobiscum sunt quam cum illo
8 He only has a bunch of mere men; we have our God to help us and fight for us!" Morale surged. Hezekiah's words put steel in their spines.
8
cum illo est brachium carneum nobiscum Dominus Deus noster qui auxiliator est noster pugnatque pro nobis confortatusque est populus huiuscemodi verbis Ezechiae regis Iuda
9 Later on, Sennacherib, who had set up camp a few miles away at Lachish, sent messengers to Jerusalem, addressing Judah through Hezekiah:
9
quae postquam gesta sunt misit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum servos suos Hierusalem ipse enim cum universo exercitu obsidebat Lachis ad Ezechiam regem Iuda et ad omnem populum qui erat in urbe dicens
10 "A proclamation of Sennacherib king of Assyria: You poor people - do you think you're safe in that so-called fortress of Jerusalem? You're sitting ducks.
10
haec dicit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum in quo habentes fiduciam sedetis obsessi in Hierusalem
11 Do you think Hezekiah will save you? Don't be stupid - Hezekiah has fed you a pack of lies. When he says, 'God will save us from the power of the king of Assyria,' he's lying - you're all going to end up dead.
11
num Ezechias decipit vos ut tradat morti in fame et siti adfirmans quod Dominus Deus vester liberet vos de manu regis Assyriorum
12 Wasn't it Hezekiah who cleared out all the neighborhood worship shrines and told you, 'There is only one legitimate place to worship'?
12
numquid non iste est Ezechias qui destruxit excelsa illius et altaria et praecepit Iudae et Hierusalem dicens coram altari uno adorabitis et in ipso conburetis incensum
13 Do you have any idea what I and my ancestors have done to all the countries around here? Has there been a single god anywhere strong enough to stand up against me?
13
an ignoratis quae ego fecerim et patres mei cunctis terrarum populis numquid praevaluerunt dii gentium omniumque terrarum liberare regionem suam de manu mea
14 Can you name one god among all the nations that either I or my ancestors have ravaged that so much as lifted a finger against me? So what makes you think you'll make out any better with your god?
14
quis est de universis diis gentium quas vastaverunt patres mei qui potuerit eruere populum suum de manu mea ut possit etiam Deus vester eruere vos de hac manu
15 Don't let Hezekiah fool you; don't let him get by with his barefaced lies; don't trust him. No god of any country or kingdom ever has been one bit of help against me or my ancestors - what kind of odds does that give your god?"
15
non vos ergo decipiat Ezechias nec vana persuasione deludat neque credatis ei si enim nullus potuit deus cunctarum gentium atque regnorum liberare populum suum de manu mea et de manu patrum meorum consequenter nec Deus vester poterit eruere vos de hac manu
16 The messengers felt free to throw in their personal comments, putting down both God and God's servant Hezekiah.
16
sed et alia multa locuti sunt servi eius contra Dominum Deum et contra Ezechiam servum eius
17 Sennacherib continued to send letters insulting the God of Israel: "The gods of the nations were powerless to help their people; the god of Hezekiah is no better, probably worse."
17
epistulas quoque scripsit plenas blasphemiae in Dominum Deum Israhel et locutus est adversus eum sicut dii gentium ceterarum non potuerunt liberare populos suos de manu mea sic et Deus Ezechiae eruere non poterit populum suum de manu ista
18 The messengers would come up to the wall of Jerusalem and shout up to the people standing on the wall, shouting their propaganda in Hebrew, trying to scare them into demoralized submission.
18
insuper et clamore magno lingua iudaica contra populum qui sedebat in muris Hierusalem personabat ut terreret eos et caperet civitatem
19 They contemptuously lumped the God of Jerusalem in with the handmade gods of other peoples.
19
locutusque est contra Deum Hierusalem sicut adversum deos populorum terrae opera manuum hominum
20 King Hezekiah, joined by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, responded by praying, calling up to heaven.
20
oraverunt igitur Ezechias rex et Esaias filius Amos prophetes adversum hanc blasphemiam ac vociferati sunt usque in caelum
21 God answered by sending an angel who wiped out everyone in the Assyrian camp, both warriors and officers. Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace, tail between his legs. When he went into the temple of his god, his own sons killed him.
21
et misit Dominus angelum qui percussit omnem virum robustum et bellatorem et principem exercitus regis Assyriorum reversusque est cum ignominia in terram suam cumque ingressus esset domum dei sui filii qui egressi fuerant de utero eius interfecerunt eum gladio
22 God saved Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem from Sennacherib king of Assyria and everyone else. And he continued to take good care of them.
22
salvavitque Dominus Ezechiam et habitatores Hierusalem de manu Sennacherib regis Assyriorum et de manu omnium et praestitit ei quietem per circuitum
23 People streamed into Jerusalem bringing offerings for the worship of God and expensive presents to Hezekiah king of Judah. All the surrounding nations were impressed - Hezekiah's stock soared.
23
multi etiam deferebant hostias et sacrificia Domino Hierusalem et munera Ezechiae regi Iuda qui exaltatus est post haec coram cunctis gentibus
24 Some time later Hezekiah became deathly sick. He prayed to God and was given a reassuring sign.
24
in diebus illis aegrotavit Ezechias usque ad mortem et oravit Dominum exaudivitque eum et dedit ei signum
25 But the sign, instead of making Hezekiah grateful, made him arrogant. This made God angry, and his anger spilled over on Judah and Jerusalem.
25
sed non iuxta beneficia quae acceperat retribuit quia elevatum est cor eius et facta est contra eum ira et contra Iudam ac Hierusalem
26 But then Hezekiah, and Jerusalem with him, repented of his arrogance, and God withdrew his anger while Hezekiah lived.
26
humiliatusque est postea eo quod exaltatum fuisset cor eius tam ipse quam habitatores Hierusalem et idcirco non venit super eos ira Domini in diebus Ezechiae
27 Hezekiah ended up very wealthy and much honored. He built treasuries for all his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and valuables,
27
fuit autem Ezechias dives et inclitus valde et thesauros sibi plurimos congregavit argenti auri et lapidis pretiosi aromatum et armorum universi generis et vasorum magni pretii
28 barns for the grain, new wine, and olive oil, stalls for his various breeds of cattle, and pens for his flocks.
28
apothecas quoque frumenti vini et olei et praesepia omnium iumentorum caulasque pecoribus
29 He founded royal cities for himself and built up huge stocks of sheep and cattle. God saw to it that he was extravagantly rich.
29
et urbes exaedificavit habebat quippe greges ovium et armentorum innumerabiles eo quod dedisset ei Dominus substantiam multam nimis
30 Hezekiah was also responsible for diverting the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and rerouting the water to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything he did.
30
ipse est Ezechias qui obturavit superiorem fontem aquarum Gion et avertit eas subter ad occidentem urbis David in omnibus operibus suis fecit prospere quae voluit
31 But when the rulers of Babylon sent emissaries to find out about the sign from God that had taken place earlier, God left him on his own to see what he would do; he wanted to test his heart.
31
attamen in legatione principum Babylonis qui missi fuerant ad eum ut interrogarent de portento quod acciderat super terram dereliquit eum Deus ut temptaretur et nota fierent omnia quae erant in corde eius
32 The rest of the history of Hezekiah and his life of loyal service, you can read for yourself - it's written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Royal Annals of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
32
reliqua autem sermonum Ezechiae et misericordiarum eius scripta sunt in visione Esaiae filii Amos prophetae et in libro regum Iuda et Israhel
33 When Hezekiah died, they buried him in the upper part of the King David cemetery. Everyone in Judah and Jerusalem came to the funeral. He was buried in great honor. Manasseh his son was the next king.
33
dormivitque Ezechias cum patribus suis et sepelierunt eum supra sepulchra filiorum David et celebravit eius exequias universus Iuda et omnes habitatores Hierusalem regnavitque Manasses filius eius pro eo
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.