The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria made war on all the fortress cities of Judah and took them.
1
et factum est in quartodecimo anno regis Ezechiae ascendit Sennacherib rex Assyriorum super omnes civitates Iuda munitas et cepit eas
2 Then the king of Assyria sent his general, the "Rabshekah," accompanied by a huge army, from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah. The general stopped at the aqueduct where it empties into the upper pool on the road to the public laundry.
2
et misit rex Assyriorum Rabsacen de Lachis in Hierusalem ad regem Ezechiam in manu gravi et stetit in aquaeductu piscinae superioris in via agri Fullonis
3 Three men went out to meet him: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, in charge of the palace; Shebna the secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the official historian.
3
et egressus est ad eum Eliachim filius Helciae qui erat super domum et Sobna scriba et Ioae filius Asaph a commentariis
4 The Rabshekah said to them, "Tell Hezekiah that the Great King, the king of Assyria, says this: 'What kind of backing do you think you have against me?
4
et dixit ad eos Rabsaces dicite Ezechiae haec dicit rex magnus rex Assyriorum quae est ista fiducia qua confidis
5 You're bluffing and I'm calling your bluff. Your words are no match for my weapons. What kind of backup do you have now that you've rebelled against me?
5
aut quo consilio vel fortitudine rebellare disponis super quem habes fiduciam quia recessisti a me
6 Egypt? Don't make me laugh. Egypt is a rubber crutch. Lean on Egypt and you'll end up flat on your face. That's all Pharaoh king of Egypt is to anyone who leans on him.
6
ecce confidis super baculum harundineum confractum istum super Aegyptum cui si innisus fuerit homo intrabit in manu eius et perforabit eam sic Pharao rex Aegypti omnibus qui confidunt in eo
7 And if you try to tell me, "We're leaning on our God," isn't it a bit late? Hasn't Hezekiah just gotten rid of all the places of worship, telling you, "You've got to worship at this altar"?
7
quod si responderis mihi in Domino Deo nostro confidimus nonne ipse est cuius abstulit Ezechias excelsa et altaria et dixit Iudae et Hierusalem coram altari isto adorabitis
8 "'Be reasonable. Face the facts: My master the king of Assyria will give you two thousand horses if you can put riders on them.
8
et nunc trade te domino meo regi Assyriorum et dabo tibi duo milia equorum nec poteris ex te praebere ascensores eorum
9 You can't do it, can you? So how do you think, depending on flimsy Egypt's chariots and riders, you can stand up against even the lowest-ranking captain in my master's army?
9
et quomodo sustinebis faciem iudicis unius loci ex servis domini mei minoribus quod si confidis in Aegypto in quadriga et in equitibus
10 "'And besides, do you think I came all this way to destroy this land without first getting God's blessing? It was your God who told me, Make war on this land. Destroy it.'"
10
et nunc numquid sine Domino ascendi ad terram istam ut disperderem eam Dominus dixit ad me ascende super terram istam et disperde eam
11 Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah answered the Rabshekah, "Please talk to us in Aramaic. We understand Aramaic. Don't talk to us in Hebrew within earshot of all the people gathered around."
11
et dixit Eliachim et Sobna et Ioae ad Rabsacen loquere ad servos tuos syra lingua intellegimus enim ne loquaris ad nos iudaice in auribus populi qui est super murum
12 But the Rabshekah replied, "Do you think my master has sent me to give this message to your master and you but not also to the people clustered here? It's their fate that's at stake. They're the ones who are going to end up eating their own excrement and drinking their own urine."
12
et dixit ad eos Rabsaces numquid ad dominum tuum et ad te misit me dominus meus ut loquerer omnia verba ista et non potius ad viros qui sedent in muro ut comedant stercora sua et bibant urinam pedum suorum vobiscum
13 Then the Rabshekah stood up and called out loudly in Hebrew, the common language, "Listen to the message of the great king, the king of Assyria!
13
et stetit Rabsaces et clamavit voce magna iudaice et dixit audite verba regis magni regis Assyriorum
14 Don't listen to Hezekiah's lies. He can't save you.
14
haec dicit rex non seducat vos Ezechias quia non poterit eruere vos
15 And don't pay any attention to Hezekiah's pious sermons telling you to lean on God, telling you 'God will save us, depend on it. God won't let this city fall to the king of Assyria.'
15
et non vobis tribuat fiduciam Ezechias super Domino dicens eruens liberabit nos Dominus non dabitur civitas ista in manu regis Assyriorum
16 "Don't listen to Hezekiah. Listen to the king of Assyria's offer: 'Make peace with me. Come and join me. Everyone will end up with a good life, with plenty of land and water,
16
nolite audire Ezechiam haec enim dicit rex Assyriorum facite mecum benedictionem et egredimini ad me et comedite unusquisque vineam suam et unusquisque ficum suam et bibite unusquisque aquam cisternae suae
17 and eventually something far better. I'll turn you loose in wide open spaces, with more than enough fertile and productive land for everyone.'
17
donec veniam et tollam vos ad terram quae est ut terra vestra terram frumenti et vini terram panum et vinearum
18 Don't let Hezekiah mislead you with his lies, 'God will save us.' Has that ever happened? Has any god in history ever gotten the best of the king of Assyria?
18
ne conturbet vos Ezechias dicens Dominus liberabit nos numquid liberaverunt dii gentium unusquisque terram suam de manu regis Assyriorum
19 Look around you. Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? The gods of Sepharvaim? Did the gods do anything for Samaria?
19
ubi est deus Emath et Arfad ubi est deus Seffarvaim numquid liberaverunt Samariam de manu mea
20 Name one god that has ever saved its countries from me. So what makes you think that God could save Jerusalem from me?'"
20
quis est ex omnibus diis terrarum istarum qui eruerit terram suam de manu mea ut eruat Dominus Hierusalem de manu mea
21 The three men were silent. They said nothing, for the king had already commanded, "Don't answer him."
21
et siluerunt et non responderunt ei verbum mandaverat enim rex dicens ne respondeatis ei
22 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, tearing their clothes in defeat and despair, went back and reported what the Rabshekah had said to Hezekiah.
22
et ingressus est Eliachim filius Helciae qui erat super domum et Sobna scriba et Ioae filius Asaph a commentariis ad Ezechiam scissis vestibus et nuntiaverunt ei verba Rabsacis
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.