Isaiah’s Message of Deliverance
(Isaiah 37:1–7)

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ (when heard it) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah), וַיִּקְרַ֖ע (that he tore) אֶת־ (-) בְּגָדָ֑יו (his clothes) וַיִּתְכַּ֣ס (and covered himself) בַּשָּׂ֔ק (with sackcloth) וַיָּבֹ֖א (and went into) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 2  וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח (And he sent) אֶת־ (-) אֶלְיָקִ֨ים (Eliakim) אֲשֶׁר־ (who was) עַל־ (over) הַבַּ֜יִת (the house), וְשֶׁבְנָ֣א (and Shebna) הַסֹּפֵ֗ר (the scribe), וְאֵת֙ (and) זִקְנֵ֣י (the elders) הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים (of the priests), מִתְכַּסִּ֖ים (covering themselves) בַּשַּׂקִּ֑ים (with sackcloth), אֶל־ (to) יְשַֽׁעְיָ֥הוּ (Isaiah) הַנָּבִ֖יא (the prophet) בֶּן־ (son) אָמֽוֹץ׃ (of Amo z). 3  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), כֹּ֚ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ (Hezekiah): יוֹם־ (A day) צָרָ֧ה (of distress) וְתוֹכֵחָ֛ה (and rebuke) וּנְאָצָ֖ה (and blasphemy) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֑ה (this is), כִּ֣י (for) בָ֤אוּ (have come) בָנִים֙ (the sons) עַד־ (to) מַשְׁבֵּ֔ר (birth), וְכֹ֥חַ (and strength) אַ֖יִן (not) לְלֵדָֽה׃ (is to bring forth). 4  אוּלַ֡י (Perhaps) יִשְׁמַע֩ (will hear) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ (your God) אֵ֣ת׀ (-) כָּל־ (all) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) רַב־ (of the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֗ה (shakeh), אֲשֶׁר֩ (whom) שְׁלָח֨וֹ (has sent) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) אַשּׁ֤וּר׀ (of Assyria) אֲדֹנָיו֙ (his master) לְחָרֵף֙ (to reproach) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (the God) חַ֔י (living), וְהוֹכִ֙יחַ֙ (and he will decide) בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים (concerning the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁמַ֖ע (has heard) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (your God). וְנָשָׂ֣אתָ (And you shall lift up) תְפִלָּ֔ה (a prayer) בְּעַ֥ד (for) הַשְּׁאֵרִ֖ית (the remnant) הַנִּמְצָאָֽה׃ (that is found).

5  וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ (And came) עַבְדֵ֛י (the servants) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (of King) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) אֶל־ (to) יְשַֽׁעַיָֽהוּ׃ (Isaiah). 6  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ (Isaiah), כֹּ֥ה (Thus) תֹאמְר֖וּן (you⁺ shall say) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ master), כֹּ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH): אַל־ (Not) תִּירָא֙ (do be afraid) מִפְּנֵ֤י (in the face) הַדְּבָרִים֙ (of the words) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ (you have heard), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (with which) גִּדְּפ֛וּ (have blasphemed) נַעֲרֵ֥י (the servants) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) אַשּׁ֖וּר (of Assyria) אֹתִֽי׃ (Me). 7  הִנְנִ֨י (Surely) נֹתֵ֥ן (I will send) בּוֹ֙ (upon him) ר֔וּחַ (a spirit), וְשָׁמַ֥ע (and he will hear) שְׁמוּעָ֖ה (a report) וְשָׁ֣ב (and return) לְאַרְצ֑וֹ (to his own land), וְהִפַּלְתִּ֥יו (and I will cause him to fall) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (by the sword) בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃ (in his own land).

Sennacherib’s Blasphemous Letter
(Isaiah 37:8–13)

8  וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ (And returned) רַב־ (the Rab-) שָׁקֵ֔ה (shakeh) וַיִּמְצָא֙ (and found) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria) נִלְחָ֖ם (warring) עַל־ (against) לִבְנָ֑ה (Libnah), כִּ֣י (for) שָׁמַ֔ע (he had heard) כִּ֥י (that) נָסַ֖ע (he had pulled out) מִלָּכִֽישׁ׃ (from Lachish).

9  וַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע (And he heard) אֶל־ (concerning) תִּרְהָ֤קָה (Tirhakah) מֶֽלֶך־ (king) כּוּשׁ֙ (of Cush), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), יָצָ֖א (he has come out) לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם (to make war) אִתָּ֑ךְ (with you).

וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ (And he turned) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (and sent) מַלְאָכִ֔ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 10  כֹּ֣ה (Thus) תֹאמְר֗וּן (you⁺ shall speak) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֤הוּ (Hezekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying):

אַל־ (Not) יַשִּׁאֲךָ֣ (do let deceive you) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) אַתָּ֛ה (you) בֹּטֵ֥חַ (trust) בּ֖וֹ (in him), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לֹ֤א (not) תִנָּתֵן֙ (shall be given) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem) בְּיַ֖ד (into the hand) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria). 11  הִנֵּ֣ה׀ (Behold), אַתָּ֣ה (you) שָׁמַ֗עְתָּ (have heard) אֵת֩ (-) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (what) עָשׂ֜וּ (have done) מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) אַשּׁ֛וּר (of Assyria) לְכָל־ (to all) הָאֲרָצ֖וֹת (the lands), לְהַֽחֲרִימָ֑ם (devoting them to destruction). וְאַתָּ֖ה (And you) תִּנָּצֵֽל׃ (shall be delivered)? 12  הַהִצִּ֨ילוּ (Have delivered) אֹתָ֜ם (those) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (the gods) הַגּוֹיִם֙ (of the nations) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) שִׁחֲת֣וּ (destroyed) אֲבוֹתַ֔י (my fathers)— אֶת־ (-) גּוֹזָ֖ן (Gozan), וְאֶת־ (and) חָרָ֑ן (Haran), וְרֶ֥צֶף (and Rezeph), וּבְנֵי־ (and the sons) עֶ֖דֶן (of Eden) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) בִּתְלַאשָּֽׂר׃ (in Telassar)? 13  אַיּ֤וֹ (Where is) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) חֲמָת֙ (of Hamath), וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (and the king) אַרְפָּ֔ד (of Arpad), וּמֶ֖לֶךְ (and the king) לָעִ֣יר (of the city) סְפַרְוָ֑יִם (of Sepharvaim), הֵנַ֖ע (Hena), וְעִוָּֽה׃ (and Ivah)?

Hezekiah’s Prayer
(Isaiah 37:14–20)

14  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And received) חִזְקִיָּ֧הוּ (Hezekiah) אֶת־ (-) הַסְּפָרִ֛ים (the letter) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים (of the messengers), וַיִּקְרָאֵ֑ם (and he read it) וַיַּ֙עַל֙ (and went up) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH). וַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּ (And spread it out) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָֽה׃פ (YHWH). 15  וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל (And prayed) חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ (Hezekiah) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) וַיֹּאמַר֒ (and said),

יְהוָ֞ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), יֹשֵׁ֣ב (dwelling between) הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים (the cherubin), אַתָּה־ (You) ה֤וּא (are) הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (God) לְבַדְּךָ֔ (alone) לְכֹ֖ל (of all) מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (the kingdoms) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the earth). אַתָּ֣ה (You) עָשִׂ֔יתָ (have made) אֶת־ (-) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) וְאֶת־ (and) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the earth). 16  הַטֵּ֨ה (Incline) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (O YHWH), אָזְנְךָ֙ (Your ear) וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע (and hear); פְּקַ֧ח (open), יְהוָ֛ה (O YHWH), עֵינֶ֖יךָ (Your eyes) וּרְאֵ֑ה (and see); וּשְׁמַ֗ע (and listen to) אֵ֚ת (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) סַנְחֵרִ֔יב (of Sennacherib), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) שְׁלָח֔וֹ (he has sent) לְחָרֵ֖ף (to reproach) אֱלֹהִ֥ים (the God) חָֽי׃ (living).

17  אָמְנָ֖ם (Truly), יְהוָ֑ה (O YHWH), הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ (have laid waste) מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) אַשּׁ֛וּר (of Assyria) אֶת־ (-) הַגּוֹיִ֖ם (the nations) וְאֶת־ (and) אַרְצָֽם׃ (their lands), 18  וְנָתְנ֥וּ (and they have given) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם (their gods) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (into the fire), כִּי֩ (for) לֹ֨א (not) אֱלֹהִ֜ים (gods) הֵ֗מָּה (they were), כִּ֣י (but) אִם־ (rather) מַעֲשֵׂ֧ה (the work) יְדֵֽי־ (of hands) אָדָ֛ם (of men)— עֵ֥ץ (wood) וָאֶ֖בֶן (and stone). וַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃ (And they have destroyed them).

19  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) יְהוָ֣ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ (our God), הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נוּ (save us) נָ֖א (please) מִיָּד֑וֹ (from his hand), וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ (and will know) כָּל־ (all) מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (the kingdoms) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth) כִּ֥י (that) אַתָּ֛ה (You), יְהוָ֥ה (O YHWH), אֱלֹהִ֖ים (are God)— לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ס (you alone).

Sennacherib’s Fall Prophesied
(Isaiah 37:21–35)

20  וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ (And sent) יְשַֽׁעְיָ֣הוּ (Isaiah) בֶן־ (son) אָמ֔וֹץ (of Amoz) אֶל־ (to) חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Hezekiah), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel): אֲשֶׁ֨ר (Because) הִתְפַּלַּ֧לְתָּ (you have prayed) אֵלַ֛י (to Me) אֶל־ (against) סַנְחֵרִ֥ב (Sennacherib) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אַשּׁ֖וּר (of Assyria) שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃ (I have heard). 21  זֶ֣ה (This is) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) דִּבֶּ֥ר (has spoken) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) עָלָ֑יו (concerning him):

בָּזָ֨ה (She despises) לְךָ֜ (you) לָעֲגָ֣ה (and mocks) לְךָ֗ (you)

בְּתוּלַת֙ (the virgin) בַּת־ (the daughter) צִיּ֔וֹן (of Zion).

אַחֲרֶ֙יךָ֙ (Behind you) רֹ֣אשׁ (her head) הֵנִ֔יעָה (she has shaken)—

בַּ֖ת (the daughter) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (of Jerusalem).

22  אֶת־ (-) מִ֤י (whom) חֵרַ֙פְתָּ֙ (have you reproached) וְגִדַּ֔פְתָּ (and blasphemed)?

וְעַל־ (And against) מִ֖י (whom) הֲרִימ֣וֹתָ (have you raised) קּ֑וֹל (your voice),

וַתִּשָּׂ֥א (and lifted up) מָר֛וֹם (on high) עֵינֶ֖יךָ (your eyes)?

עַל־ (Against) קְד֥וֹשׁ (the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel)!

23  בְּיַ֣ד (By) מַלְאָכֶיךָ֮ (your messengers) חֵרַ֣פְתָּ׀ (you have reproached) אֲדֹנָי֒ (the Lord),

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (and you have said):

בְּרֶכֶב (By the chariot) רִכְבִּ֛י (of my chariot)

אֲנִ֥י (I) עָלִ֛יתִי (have come up)

מְר֥וֹם (to the height) הָרִ֖ים (of the mountains),

יַרְכְּתֵ֣י (to the limits) לְבָנ֑וֹן (of Lebanon).

וְאֶכְרֹ֞ת (And I will cut down) קוֹמַ֤ת (the height) אֲרָזָיו֙ (of its cedars)

מִבְח֣וֹר (the choice) בְּרֹשָׁ֔יו (of its cypresses)

וְאָב֙וֹאָה֙ (and I will enter) מְל֣וֹן (the ends) קִצֹּ֔ה (of its borders),

יַ֖עַר (the forest) כַּרְמִלּֽוֹ׃ (of its orchard).

24  אֲנִ֣י (I) קַ֔רְתִּי (have dug)

וְשָׁתִ֖יתִי (and I have drunk) מַ֣יִם (waters) זָרִ֑ים (strange),

וְאַחְרִב֙ (and I have dried up) בְּכַף־ (with the soles) פְּעָמַ֔י (of my feet)

כֹּ֖ל (all) יְאֹרֵ֥י (the brooks) מָצֽוֹר׃ (of Egypt).

25  הֲלֹֽא־ (Did not) שָׁמַ֤עְתָּ (you hear)?

לְמֵֽרָחוֹק֙ (Long ago) אֹתָ֣הּ (it) עָשִׂ֔יתִי (I made);

לְמִ֥ימֵי (from) קֶ֖דֶם (ancient times) וִֽיצַרְתִּ֑יהָ (and I formed it).

עַתָּ֣ה (Now) הֲבֵיאתִ֗יהָ (I have brought it to pass),

וּתְהִ֗י (that you should be) לַהְשׁ֛וֹת (for crushing) גַּלִּ֥ים (into heaps) נִצִּ֖ים (of ruins)

עָרִ֥ים (cities) בְּצֻרֽוֹת׃ (fortified).

26  וְיֹֽשְׁבֵיהֶן֙ (Therefore their dwellers) קִצְרֵי־ (are feeble) יָ֔ד (of hand),

חַ֖תּוּ (they are dismayed) וַיֵּבֹ֑שׁוּ (and ashamed).

הָי֞וּ (They were) עֵ֤שֶׂב (as the grass) שָׂדֶה֙ (of the field),

וִ֣ירַק (and the greenness) דֶּ֔שֶׁא (of the tender grass),

חֲצִ֣יר (as the grass) גַּגּ֔וֹת (of the roofs),

וּשְׁדֵפָ֖ה (and blighted) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face) קָמָֽה׃ (of standing grain).

27  וְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ (And your dwelling place), וְצֵאתְךָ֥ (and Your going out),

וּבֹאֲךָ֖ (and your coming in) יָדָ֑עְתִּי (I know)—

וְאֵ֖ת (and) הִֽתְרַגֶּזְךָ֥ (your raging) אֵלָֽי׃ (against Me).

28  יַ֚עַן (Because) הִתְרַגֶּזְךָ֣ (your raging) אֵלַ֔י (against me) וְשַׁאֲנַנְךָ֖ (and your tumult)

עָלָ֣ה (have come up) בְאָזְנָ֑י (to My ears),

וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י (I will put) חַחִ֜י (My hook) בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ (in your nose)

וּמִתְגִּי֙ (and My bridle) בִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָ (in your lips),

וַהֲשִׁ֣בֹתִ֔יךָ (and I will turn you back)

בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (by the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) בָּ֥אתָ (you came) בָּֽהּ׃ (in).

29  וְזֶה־ (And this is) לְּךָ֣ (to you) הָא֔וֹת (a sign):

אָכ֤וֹל (You shall eat) הַשָּׁנָה֙ (this year)

סָפִ֔יחַ (what grows on its own),

וּבַשָּׁנָ֥ה (and in the year) הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית (second)

סָחִ֑ישׁ (what springs from the same).

וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה (And in the year) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗ית (third) זִרְע֧וּ (you will sow) וְקִצְר֛וּ (and reap);

וְנִטְע֥וּ (and you will plant) כְרָמִ֖ים (vineyards) וְאִכְל֥וּ (and eat) פִרְיָֽם׃ (their fruits).

30  וְיָ֨סְפָ֜ה (And it will continue)— פְּלֵיטַ֧ת (the escaped) בֵּית־ (of the house) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah),

הַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖ה (the remnant) שֹׁ֣רֶשׁ (a root) לְמָ֑טָּה (downward),

וְעָשָׂ֥ה (and it will make) פְרִ֖י (fruit) לְמָֽעְלָה׃ (upward).

31  כִּ֤י (For) מִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (out of Jerusalem) תֵּצֵ֣א (will go forth) שְׁאֵרִ֔ית (a remnant),

וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה (and those who escape) מֵהַ֣ר (from Mount) צִיּ֑וֹן (Zion).

קִנְאַ֛ת (The zeal) יְהוָ֥הֳ֖ (of YHWH) תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ (will do) זֹּֽאת׃ס (this).

32  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria):

לֹ֤א (Not) יָבֹא֙ (He shall come) אֶל־ (into) הָעִ֣יר (the city) הַזֹּ֔את (this),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יוֹרֶ֥ה (will he shoot) שָׁ֖ם (there) חֵ֑ץ (an arrow),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יְקַדְּמֶ֣נָּה (come before it) מָגֵ֔ן (with shield),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ (build) עָלֶ֖יהָ (against it) סֹלְלָֽה׃ (a mound).

33  בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ (By the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יָבֹ֖א (he came) בָּ֣הּ (in) יָשׁ֑וּב (he will return),

וְאֶל־ (and into) הָעִ֥יר (the city) הַזֹּ֛את (this) לֹ֥א (not) יָבֹ֖א (he shall come),

נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

34  וְגַנּוֹתִ֛י (And for I will cover) אֶל־ (over) הָעִ֥יר (the city) הַזֹּ֖את (this)

לְהֽוֹשִׁיעָ֑הּ (to save it)

לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י (for My own sake),

וּלְמַ֖עַן (and for the sake) דָּוִ֥ד (of David) עַבְדִּֽי׃ (My servant).

Jerusalem Delivered from the Assyrians
(2 Chronicles 32:20–23; Isaiah 37:36–38)

35  וַיְהִי֮ (And it came to pass) בַּלַּ֣יְלָה (on the night) הַהוּא֒ (that), וַיֵּצֵ֣א׀ (and went out) מַלְאַ֣ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) וַיַּךְ֙ (and he struck) בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (in the camp) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria) מֵאָ֛ה (a hundred) שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים (eighty) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (and five) אָ֑לֶף (thousand); וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ (and they rose early) בַבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), כֻלָּ֖ם (all were) פְּגָרִ֥ים (corpses) מֵתִֽים׃ (dead)! 36  וַיִּסַּ֣ע (And pulled out) וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ (and went away) וַיָּ֖שָׁב (and he returned) סַנְחֵרִ֣יב (Sennacherib) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אַשּׁ֑וּר (of Assyria), וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and dwelt) בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃ (in Nineveh).

37  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), ה֨וּא (as he) מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֜ה (was worshiping) בֵּ֣ית׀ (in the temple) נִסְרֹ֣ךְ (of Nisroch) אֱלֹהָ֗יו (his god), וְֽאַדְרַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (that Adrammelech) וְשַׂרְאֶ֤צֶרָָ֙ (and Sharezer) הִכֻּ֣הוּ (struck him down) בַחֶ֔רֶב (and with the sword), וְהֵ֥מָּה (and they) נִמְלְט֖וּ (escaped) אֶ֣רֶץ (into the land) אֲרָרָ֑ט (of Ararat). וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ (And reigned) אֵֽסַר־ (and Esar-) חַדֹּ֥ן (haddon) בְּנ֖וֹ (his son) תַּחְתָּֽיו׃פ (in his place).