25
"'Haven't you heard? I did this long ago. I planned it in the distant past. Now I make it happen so that you will turn fortified cities into piles of rubble.
26
Those who live in these cities are weak, discouraged, and ashamed. They will be like plants in the field, like fresh, green grass on the roofs, scorched before it sprouted.
27
I know when you [get up] and sit down, when you go out and come in, and how you rage against me.
28
Since you rage against me and your boasting has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your mouth. I will make you go back the way you came.
29
"'And this will be a sign for you, Hezekiah: You will eat what grows by itself this year and next year. But in the third year you will plant and harvest, plant vineyards, and eat what is produced.
30
Those few people from the nation of Judah who escape will again take root and produce crops.
31
Those few people will go out from Jerusalem, and those who escape will go out of Mount Zion. The LORD is determined to do this.'
32
"This is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: He will never come into this city, shoot an arrow here, hold a shield in front of it, or put up dirt ramps to attack it.
33
He will go back the way he came, and he won't come into this city," declares the LORD of Armies.
34
"I will shield this city to rescue it for my sake and for the sake of my servant David."
35
It happened that night. The LORD's angel went out and killed 185,000 [soldiers] in the Assyrian camp. When the Judeans got up early in the morning, they saw all the corpses.