A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth

and went into the house of the Lord.

And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shepda the secretary, and the senior

priests covered with sackloth to the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amos, they said to him,

Thus says Hezekiah, this day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace. Children have

come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. And may be that the

Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabhika, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the

living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard, therefore lift up your

prayer for the remnant that is left. When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,

Isaiah said to them, say to your master, thus says the Lord, do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard

with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me.

Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land,

and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.

The Rapshika returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libna, for he had heard

that the king had left Lakish.

Now the king heard concerning Tarhaca, king of Kush, he has set out to fight against you.

And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah saying, Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah

King of Judah.

Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Behold, you have heard with the kings of Assyria have done to all lands devoting them to destruction, and shall you be delivered?

Have the gods of the nations delivered them? The nations that my father's destroyed, Gozen, Heron, Heron, Rezif, and the people of Eden who were in Talasir? Where is the king of Hamith, the king of Arpat, the king of the king of Arpat, the king of the king of Hanna, or the king of Iva?

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