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ISAIAH CHAPTERS 31-40

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ΗΣΑΪΑΣ

ΟΥΑΙ οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἐπὶ βοήθειαν, οἱ ἐφ᾿ ἵπποις πεποιθότες καὶ ἐφ᾿ ἅρμασιν, ἔστι γὰρ πολλά, καὶ ἐφ᾿ ἵπποις, πλῆθος σφόδρα, καὶ οὐκ ἦσαν πεποιθότες ἐπὶ τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ τὸν Κύριον οὐκ ἐζήτησαν.

2 καὶ αὐτὸς σοφῶς ἦγεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς κακά, καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ ἀθετηθῇ, καὶ ἐπαναστήσεται ἐπ᾿ οἴκους ἀνθρώπων πονηρῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα αὐτῶν τὴν ματαίαν,

3 Αἰγύπτιον ἄνθρωπον καὶ οὐ Θεόν, ἵππων σάρκας καὶ οὐκ ἔστι βοήθεια· ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἐπάξει τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς, καὶ κοπιάσουσιν οἱ βοηθοῦντες, καὶ ἅμα πάντες ἀπολοῦνται.

4 ὅτι οὕτως εἶπέ μοι Κύριος· ὃν τρόπον ἐὰν βοήσῃ ὁ λέων ἢ ὁ σκύμνος ἐπὶ τῇ θύρᾳ, ᾗ ἔλαβε, καὶ κεκράξῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῇ, ἓως ἂν ἐμπλησθῇ τὰ ὄρη τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἡττήθησαν καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ θυμοῦ ἐπτοήθησαν, οὕτως καταβήσεται Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἐπιστρατεῦσαι ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ Σιών, ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη αὐτῆς.

5 ὡς ὄρνεα πετόμενα, οὕτως ὑπερασπιεῖ Κύριος σαβαὼθ ὑπὲρ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, ὑπερασπιεῖ καὶ ἐξελεῖται καὶ περιποιήσεται καὶ σώσει.

6 ἐπιστράφητε, οἱ τὴν βαθεῖαν βουλὴν βουλευόμενοι καὶ ἄνομον.

7 ὅτι τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀπαρνήσονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι τὰ χειροποίητα αὐτῶν τὰ ἀργυρᾶ καὶ τὰ χειροποίητα τὰ χρυσᾶ, ἃ ἐποίησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὐτῶν.

8 καὶ πεσεῖται ᾿Ασσούρ· οὐ μάχαιρα ἀνδρός, οὐδὲ μάχαιρα ἀνθρώπου καταφάγεται αὐτόν, καὶ φεύξεται οὐκ ἀπὸ προσώπου μαχαίρας· οἱ δὲ νεανίσκοι ἔσονται εἰς ἥττημα,

9 πέτρᾳ γὰρ περιληφθήσονται ὡς χάρακι καὶ ἡττηθήσονται, ὁ δὲ φεύγων ἁλώσεται. Τάδε λέγει Κύριος· μακάριος ὃς ἔχει ἐν Σιὼν σπέρμα καὶ οἰκείους ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.

ΙΔΟΥ γὰρ βασιλεὺς δίκαιος βασιλεύσει, καὶ ἄρχοντες μετὰ κρίσεως ἄρξουσι.

2 καὶ ἔσται ὁ ἄνθρωπος κρύπτων τοὺς λόγους αὐτοῦ καὶ κρυβήσεται ὡς ἀφ᾿ ὕδατος φερομένου· καὶ φανήσεται ἐν Σιὼν ὡς ποταμὸς φερόμενος ἔνδοξος ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ.

3 καὶ οὐκέτι ἔσονται πεποιθότες ἐπ᾿ ἀνθρώποις, ἀλλὰ τὰ ὦτα ἀκούειν δώσουσι.

4 καὶ ἡ καρδία τῶν ἀσθενούντων προσέξει τοῦ ἀκούειν, καὶ αἱ γλῶσσαι αἱ ψελλίζουσαι ταχὺ μαθήσονται λαλεῖν εἰρήνην.

5 καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ εἴπωσι τῷ μωρῷ ἄρχειν, καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ εἴπωσιν οἱ ὑπηρέται σου· σίγα.

6 ὁ γὰρ μωρὸς μωρὰ λαλήσει, καὶ ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ μάταια νοήσει τοῦ συντελεῖν ἄνομα καὶ λαλεῖν πρὸς Κύριον πλάνησιν, τοῦ διασπεῖραι ψυχὰς πεινώσας καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς τὰς διψώσας κενὰς ποιῆσαι.

7 ἡ γὰρ βουλὴ τῶν πονηρῶν ἄνομα βουλεύσεται καταφθεῖραι ταπεινοὺς ἐν λόγοις ἀδίκοις καὶ διασκεδάσαι λόγους ταπεινῶν ἐν κρίσει.

8 οἱ δὲ εὐσεβεῖς συνετὰ ἐβουλεύσαντο, καὶ αὕτη ἡ βουλὴ μενεῖ.

9 Γυναῖκες πλούσιαι, ἀνάστητε, καὶ ἀκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου· θυγατέρες ἐν ἐλπίδι, εἰσακούσατε λόγους μου.

10 ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ μνείαν ποιήσασθε ἐν ὀδύνῃ μετ᾿ ἐλπίδος· ἀνήλωται ὁ τρυγητός, πέπαυται ὁ σπόρος καὶ οὐκέτι μὴ ἔλθῃ.

11 ἔκστητε, λυπήθητε, αἱ πεποιθυῖαι, ἐκδύσασθε, γυμναὶ γένεσθε, περιζώσασθε σάκκους τὰς ὀσφύας

12 καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν μαστῶν κόπτεσθε ἀπὸ ἀγροῦ ἐπιθυμήματος καὶ ἀμπέλου γεννήματος.

13 ἡ γῆ τοῦ λαοῦ μου, ἄκανθα καὶ χόρτος ἀναβήσεται, καὶ ἐκ πάσης οἰκίας εὐφροσύνη ἀρθήσεται·

14 πόλις πλουσία, οἶκοι ἐγκαταλελειμμένοι πλοῦτον πόλεως καὶ οἴκους ἐπιθυμήματος ἀφήσουσι· καὶ ἔσονται αἱ κῶμαι σπήλαια ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος, εὐφροσύνη ὄνων ἀγρίων, βοσκήματα ποιμένων,

15 ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς πνεῦμα ἀφ᾿ ὑψηλοῦ. καὶ ἔσται ἔρημος ὁ Χέρμελ, καὶ ὁ Χέρμελ εἰς δρυμὸν λογισθήσεται.

16 καὶ ἀναπαύσεται ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ κρίμα, καὶ δικαιοσύνη ἐν τῷ Καρμήλῳ κατοικήσει·

17 καὶ ἔσται τὰ ἔργα τῆς δικαιοσύνης εἰρήνη, καὶ κρατήσει ἡ δικαιοσύνη ἀνάπαυσιν, καὶ πεποιθότες ἕως τοῦ αἰῶνος·

18 καὶ κατοικήσει ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν πόλει εἰρήνης καὶ ἐνοικήσει πεποιθώς, καὶ ἀναπαύσονται μετὰ πλούτου.

19 ἡ δὲ χάλαζα ἐὰν καταβῇ, οὐκ ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς ἥξει. καὶ ἔσονται οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν τοῖς δρυμοῖς πεποιθότες ὡς οἱ ἐν τῇ πεδινῇ.

20 μακάριοι οἱ σπείροντες ἐπὶ πᾶν ὕδωρ, οὗ βοῦς καὶ ὄνος πατεῖ.

ΟΥΑΙ τοῖς ταλαιπωροῦσιν ὑμᾶς, ὑμᾶς δὲ οὐδεὶς ποιεῖ ταλαιπώρους, καὶ ὁ ἀθετῶν ὑμᾶς οὐκ ἀθετεῖ· ἁλώσονται οἱ ἀθετοῦντες καὶ παραδοθήσονται καὶ ὡς σὴς ἐφ᾿ ἱματίου, οὕτως ἡττηθήσονται.

2 Κύριε, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, ἐπὶ σοὶ γὰρ πεποίθαμεν· ἐγενήθη τὸ σπέρμα τῶν ἀπειθούντων εἰς ἀπώλειαν, ἡ δὲ σωτηρία ἡμῶν ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως.

3 διὰ φωνὴν τοῦ φόβου ἐξέστησαν λαοὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου σου, καὶ διεσπάρησαν τὰ ἔθνη.

4 νῦν δὲ συναχθήσεται τὰ σκῦλα ὑμῶν μικροῦ καὶ μεγάλου· ὃν τρόπον ἐάν τις συναγάγη ἀκρίδας, οὕτως ἐμπαίξουσιν ὑμῖν.

5 ἅγιος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν ὑψηλοῖς, ἐνεπλήσθη Σιὼν κρίσεως καὶ δικαιοσύνης.

6 ἐν νόμῳ παραδοθήσονται, ἐν θησαυροῖς ἡ σωτηρία ἡμῶν, ἐκεῖ σοφία καὶ ἐπιστήμη καὶ εὐσέβεια πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· οὗτοί εἰσι θησαυροὶ δικαιοσύνης.

7 ἰδοὺ δὴ ἐν τῷ φόβῳ ὑμῶν αὐτοὶ φοβηθήσονται· οὓς ἐφοβεῖσθε, φοβηθήσονται ἀφ᾿ ὑμῶν· ἄγγελοι γὰρ ἀποσταλήσονται πικρῶς κλαίοντες, παρακαλοῦντες εἰρήνην.

8 ἐρημωθήσονται γὰρ αἱ τούτων ὁδοί· πέπαυται ὁ φόβος τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ἡ πρὸς τούτους διαθήκη αἴρεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ λογίσησθε αὐτοὺς ἀνθρώπους.

9 ἐπένθησεν ἡ γῆ, ᾐσχύνθη ὁ Λίβανος, ἕλη ἐγένετο ὁ Σάρων· φανερὰ ἔσται ἡ Γαλιλαία καὶ ὁ Κάρμηλος.

10 νῦν ἀναστήσομαι, λέγει Κύριος, νῦν δοξασθήσομαι, νῦν ὑψωθήσομαι·

11 νῦν ὄψεσθε, νῦν αἰσθηθήσεσθε· ματαία ἔσται ἡ ἰσχὺς τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, πῦρ κατέδεται ὑμᾶς.

12 καὶ ἔσονται ἔθνη κατακεκαυμένα ὡς ἄκανθα ἐν ἀγρῷ ἐρριμμένη καὶ κατακεκαυμένη.

13 ἀκούσονται οἱ πόρρωθεν ἃ ἐποίησα, γνώσονται οἱ ἐγγίζοντες τὴν ἰσχύν μου.

14 ἀπέστησαν οἱ ἐν Σιὼν ἄνομοι, λήψεται τρόμος τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς· τίς ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν, ὅτι πῦρ καίεται; τίς ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν τὸν τόπον τὸν αἰώνιον;

15 πορευόμενος ἐν διακαιοσύνῃ, λαλῶν εὐθεῖαν ὁδόν, μισῶν ἀνομίαν καὶ ἀδικίαν καὶ τὰς χεῖρας ἀποσειόμενος ἀπὸ δώρων, βαρύνων τὰ ὦτα, ἵνα μὴ ἀκούσῃ κρίσιν αἵματος, καμμύων τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, ἵνα μὴ ἴδῃ ἀδικίαν,

16 οὗτος οἰκήσει ἐν ὑψηλῷ σπηλαίῳ πέτρας ἰσχυρᾶς· ἄρτος αὐτῷ δοθήσεται, καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ αὐτοῦ πιστόν.

17 βασιλέα μετὰ δόξης ὄψεσθε, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ὑμῶν ὄψονται γῆ πόρρωθεν.

18 ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν μελετήσει φόβον· ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ γραμματικοί; ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ συμβουλεύοντες; ποῦ ἔστιν ὁ ἀριθμῶν τοὺς στρεφομένους

19 μικρὸν καὶ μέγα λαόν; ᾧ οὐ συνεβουλεύσατο, οὐδὲ ᾔδει βαθύφωνον ὥστε μὴ ἀκοῦσαι λαὸς πεφαυλισμένος καὶ οὐκ ἔστι τῷ ἀκούοντι σύνεσις.

20 ἰδοὺ Σιὼν ἡ πόλις, τὸ σωτήριον ἡμῶν· οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὄψονται ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, πόλις πλουσία, σκηναί, αἳ οὐ μὴ σεισθῶσιν, οὐδὲ μὴ κινηθῶσιν οἱ πάσσαλοι τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτῆς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα χρόνον, οὐδὲ τὰ σχοινία αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ διαρραγῶσιν.

21 ὅτι τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου μέγα ὑμῖν· τόπος ὑμῖν ἔσται, ποταμοὶ καὶ διώρυχες πλατεῖς καὶ εὐρύχωροι· οὐ πορεύσῃ ταύτην τὴν ὁδόν, οὐδὲ πορεύσεται πλοῖον ἐλαῦνον.

22 ὁ γὰρ Θεός μου μέγας ἐστίν, οὐ παρελεύσεταί με Κύριος· κριτὴς ἡμῶν Κύριος, ἄρχων ἡμῶν Κύριος, βασιλεὺς ἡμῶν Κύριος, οὗτος ἡμᾶς σώσει.

23 ἐρράγησαν τὰ σχοινία σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐνίσχυσαν· ὁ ἱστός σου ἔκλινεν, οὐ χαλάσει τὰ ἱστία· οὐκ ἀρεῖ σημεῖον, ἕως οὗ παραδοθῇ εἰς προνομήν· τοίνυν πολλοὶ χωλοὶ προνομὴν ποιήσουσι.

24 καὶ οὐ μὴ εἴπῃ· κοπιῶ, ὁ λαὸς ἐνοικῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς· ἀφέθη γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἡ ἁμαρτία.

ΠΡΟΣΑΓΑΓΕΤΕ, ἔθνη, καὶ ἀκούσατε, ἄρχοντες. ἀκουσάτω ἡ γῆ καὶ οἱ ἐν αὐτῇ, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ ἐν αὐτῇ.

2 διότι θυμὸς Κυρίου ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ὀργὴ ἐπὶ τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτοὺς καὶ παραδοῦναι αὐτοὺς εἰς σφαγήν.

3 οἱ δὲ τραυματίαι αὐτῶν ριφήσονται καὶ οἱ νεκροί, καὶ ἀναβήσεται αὐτῶν ἡ ὀσμή, καὶ βραχήσεται τὰ ὄρη ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῶν.

4 καὶ τακήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ ἑλιγήσεται ὁ οὐρανὸς ὡς βιβλίον, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἄστρα πεσεῖται ὡς φύλλα ἐξ ἀμπέλου καὶ ὡς πίπτει φύλλα ἀπὸ συκῆς.

5 ἐμεθύσθη ἡ μάχαιρά μου ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ· ἰδοὺ ἐπὶ τὴν ᾿Ιδουμαίαν καταβήσεται καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν τῆς ἀπωλείας μετὰ κρίσεως.

6 ἡ μάχαιρα τοῦ Κυρίου ἐνεπλήσθη αἵματος, ἐπαχύνθη ἀπὸ στέατος ἀρνῶν καὶ ἀπὸ στέατος τράγων καὶ κριῶν· ὅτι θυσία τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν Βοσὸρ καὶ σφαγὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιδουμαίᾳ.

7 καὶ συμπεσοῦνται οἱ ἁδροὶ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ κριοὶ καὶ οἱ ταῦροι, καὶ μεθυσθήσεται ἡ γῆ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ στέατος αὐτῶν ἐμπλησθήσεται.

8 ἡμέρα γὰρ κρίσεως Κυρίου καὶ ἐνιαυτὸς ἀνταποδόσεως κρίσεως Σιών.

9 καὶ στραφήσονται αἱ φάραγγες αὐτῆς εἰς πίσσαν καὶ ἡ γῆ αὐτῆς εἰς θεῖον, καὶ ἔσται ἡ γῆ αὐτῆς ὡς πίσσα καιομένη

10 νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας καὶ οὐ σβεσθήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα χρόνον, καὶ ἀναβήσεται ὁ καπνὸς αὐτῆς ἄνω· εἰς γενεὰς ἐρημωθήσεται καὶ εἰς χρόνον πολύν,

11 ὄρνεα καὶ ἐχῖνοι καὶ ἴβεις καὶ κόρακες κατοικήσουσιν ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐπιβληθήσεται ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν σπαρτίον γεωμετρίας ἐρήμου, καὶ ὀνοκένταυροι οἰκήσουσιν ἐν αὐτῇ.

12 οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῆς οὐκ ἔσονται· οἱ γὰρ βασιλεῖς καὶ οἱ μεγιστᾶνες αὐτῆς ἔσονται εἰς ἀπώλειαν.

13 καὶ ἀναφύσει εἰς τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν ἀκάνθινα ξύλα καὶ εἰς τὰ ὀχυρώματα αὐτῆς, καὶ ἔσται ἔπαυλις σειρήνων καὶ αὐλὴ στρουθῶν.

14 καὶ συναντήσουσι δαιμόνια ὀνοκενταύροις καὶ βοήσονται ἕτερος πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον· ἐκεῖ ἀναπαύσονται ὀνοκεύνταυροι, εὗρον γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἀνάπαυσιν.

15 ἐκεῖ ἐνόσσευσεν ἐχῖνος, καὶ ἔσωσεν ἡ γῆ τὰ παιδία αὐτῆς μετὰ ἀσφαλείας· ἐκεῖ συνήντησαν ἔλαφοι καὶ εἶδον τὰ πρόσωπα ἀλλήλων·

16 ἀριθμῷ παρῆλθον, καὶ μία αὐτῶν οὐκ ἀπώλετο, ἑτέρα τὴν ἑτέραν οὐκ ἐζήτησαν, ὅτι ὁ Κύριος αὐτοῖς ἐνετείλατο, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ συνήγαγεν αὐτάς.

17 καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπιβαλεῖ αὐτοῖς κλήρους, καὶ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ διεμέρισε βόσκεσθαι· εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα χρόνον κληρονομήσετε, εἰς γενεὰς γενεῶν ἀναπαύσονται ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς.

ΕΥΦΡΑΝΘΗΤΙ, ἔρημος διψῶσα, ἀγαλλιάσθω ἔρημος καὶ ἀνθήτω ὡς κρίνον,

2 καὶ ἐξανθήσει καὶ ὑλοχαρήσει καὶ ἀγαλλιάσεται τὰ ἔρημα τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου· καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Λιβάνου ἐδόθη αὐτῇ καὶ ἡ τιμὴ τοῦ Καρμήλου, καὶ ὁ λαός μου ὄψεται τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου καὶ τὸ ὕψος τοῦ Θεοῦ.

3 ἰσχύσατε, χεῖρες ἀνειμέναι καὶ γόνατα παραλελυμένα·

4 παρακαλέσατε, οἱ ὀλιγόψυχοι τῇ διανοίᾳ· ἰσχύσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν κρίσιν ἀναταποδίδωσι καὶ ἀνταποδώσει, αὐτὸς ἥξει καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς.

5 τότε ἀνοιχθήσονται ὀφθαλμοὶ τυφλῶν, καὶ ὦτα κωφῶν ἀκούσονται.

6 τότε ἁλεῖται ὡς ἔλαφος ὁ χωλός, τρανὴ δὲ ἔσται γλῶσσα μογιλάλων, ὅτι ἐρράγη ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ὕδωρ καὶ φάραγξ ἐν γῇ διψώσῃ·

7 καὶ ἔσται ἡ ἄνυδρος εἰς ἕλη, καὶ εἰς τὴν διψῶσαν γῆν πηγὴ ὕδατος ἔσται· ἐκεῖ ἔσται εὐφροσύνη ὀρνέων, ἐπαύλεις καλάμου καὶ ἕλη.

8 ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁδὸς καθαρὰ καὶ ὁδὸς ἁγία κληθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἐκεῖ ἀκάθαρτος, οὐδὲ ἔσται ἐκεῖ ὁδὸς ἀκάθαρτος· οἱ δὲ διεσπαρμένοι πορεύσονται ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ πλανηθῶσι.

9 καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐκεῖ λέων, οὐδὲ τῶν πονηρῶν θηρίων οὐ μὴ ἀναβῇ ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν, οὐδὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ἐκεῖ, ἀλλὰ πορεύσονται ἐν αὐτῇ λελυτρωμένοι

10 καὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ Κύριον· καὶ ἀποστραφήσονται καὶ ἥξουσιν εἰς Σιὼν μετ᾿ εὐφροσύνης, καὶ εὐφροσύνη αἰώνιος ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν· ἐπὶ γὰρ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῶν αἴνεσις καὶ ἀγαλλίαμα, καὶ εὐφροσύνη καταλήψεται αὐτούς. ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη, λύπη καὶ στεναγμός.

ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο τοῦ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτου ἔτους, βασιλεύοντος ᾿Εζεκίου, ἀνέβη Σενναχηρεὶμ βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας τὰς ὀχυρὰς καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτάς.

2 καὶ ἀπέστειλε βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων τὸν Ραψάκην ἐκ Λαχεὶς εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ᾿Εζεκίαν μετὰ δυνάμεως πολλῆς, καὶ ἔστη ἐν τῷ ὑδραγωγῷ τῆς κολυμβήθρας τῆς ἄνω ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ ἀγροῦ τοῦ γναφέως.

3 καὶ ἐξῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ῾Ελιακεὶμ ὁ τοῦ Χελκίου ὁ οἰκονόμος καὶ Σομνᾶς ὁ γραμματεὺς καὶ ᾿Ιωὰχ ὁ τοῦ ᾿Ασὰφ ὁ ὑπομνηματογράφος.

4 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ραψάκης· εἴπατε ᾿Εζεκίᾳ· τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας, βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων· τί πεποιθὼς εἶ;

5 μὴ ἐν βουλῇ ἢ λόγοις χειλέων παράταξις γίνεται; καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ τίνα πέποιθας, ὅτι ἀπειθεῖς μοι;

6 ἰδοὺ πεποιθὼς εἶ ἐπὶ τὴν ράβδον τὴν καλαμίνην τὴν τεθλασμένην ταύτην, ἐπ᾿ Αἴγυπτον· ὡς ἂν ἐπιστηριχθῇ ἀνὴρ ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν, εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τρήσει αὐτήν· οὕτως ἐστὶ Φαραὼ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου καὶ πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ.

7 εἰ δὲ λέγετε· ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν πεποίθαμεν,

8 νῦν μείχθητε τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ βασιλεῖ ᾿Ασσυρίων, καὶ δώσω ὑμῖν δισχιλίαν ἵππον, εἰ δυνήσεσθε δοῦναι ἀναβάτας ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς.

9 καὶ πῶς δύνασθε ἀποστρέψαι εἰς πρόσωπον τῶν τοπαρχῶν; οἰκέται εἰσὶν οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπ᾿ Αἰγυπτίοις εἰς ἵππον καὶ ἀναβάτην.

10 καὶ νῦν μὴ ἄνευ Κυρίου ἀνέβημεν ἐπὶ τὴν χώραν ταύτην πολεμῆσαι αὐτήν; Κύριος εἶπε πρός με· ἀνάβηθι ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ταύτην, καὶ διάφθειρον αὐτήν.

11 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν ῾Ελιακεὶμ καὶ Σομνᾶς καὶ ᾿Ιωάχ· λάλησον πρὸς τοὺς παῖδάς σου Συριστί, ἀκούομεν γὰρ ἡμεῖς, καὶ μὴ λάλει πρὸς ἡμᾶς ᾿Ιουδαϊστί· καὶ ἱνατί λαλεῖς εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῶν ἀνθρώπων τῶν ἐπὶ τῷ τείχει;

12 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ραψάκης· μὴ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον ὑμῶν ἢ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ κύριός μου λαλῆσαι τοὺς λόγους τούτους; οὐχὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθημένους ἐπὶ τῷ τείχει, ἵνα φάγωσι κόπρον καὶ πίωσιν οὖρον μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ἅμα;

13 καὶ ἔστη Ραψάκης καὶ ἀνεβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ᾿Ιουδαϊστὶ καὶ εἶπεν· ἀκούσατε τοὺς λόγους τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου, βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων.

14 τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεύς· μὴ ἀπατάτω ὑμᾶς ᾿Εζεκίας λόγοις, οἳ οὐ δυνήσονται ρύσασθαι ὑμᾶς·

15 καὶ μὴ λεγέτω ὑμῖν ᾿Εζεκίας, ὅτι ρύσεται ὑμᾶς ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραδοθῇ ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἐν χειρὶ βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων·

16 μὴ ἀκούετε ᾿Εζεκίου. τάδε λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων· εἰ βούλεσθε εὐλογηθῆναι, ἐκπορεύεσθε πρός με καὶ φάγεσθε ἕκαστος τὴν ἄμπελον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς συκᾶς καὶ πίεσθε ὕδωρ ἐκ τοῦ λάκκου ὑμῶν,

17 ἕως ἂν ἔλθω καὶ λάβω ὑμᾶς εἰς γῆν, ὡς ἡ γῆ ὑμῶν, γῆ σίτου καὶ οἴνου καὶ ἄρτων καὶ ἀμπελώνων.

18 μὴ ἀπατάτω ὑμᾶς ᾿Εζεκίας λέγων· ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν ρύσεται ὑμᾶς. μὴ ἐρρύσαντο οἱ θεοὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ χώραν ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων;

19 ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς Αἰμὰθ καὶ ᾿Αρφάθ; καὶ ποῦ ὁ θεὸς τῆς πόλεως Σεπφαρείμ; μὴ ἐδύναντο ρύσασθαι Σαμάρειαν ἐκ χειρός μου;

20 τίς τῶν θεῶν πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν τούτων, ὅστις ἐρρύσατο τὴ γῆν αὐτοῦ ἐκ χειρός μου, ὅτι ρύσεται ὁ Θεὸς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἐκ χειρός μου;

21 καὶ ἐσιώπησαν, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ λόγον, διὰ τὸ προστάξαι τὸν βασιλέα μηδένα ἀποκριθῆναι.

22 Καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ῾Ελιακεὶμ ὁ τοῦ Χελκίου οἰκονόμος καὶ Σομνᾶς ὁ γραμματεὺς τῆς δυνάμεως καὶ ᾿Ιωὰχ ὁ τοῦ ᾿Ασὰφ ὁ ὑπομνηματογράφος πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν ἐσχισμένοι τοὺς χιτῶνας καὶ ἀνήγγειλαν αὐτῷ τοὺς λόγους Ραψάκου.

ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαι τὸν βασιλέα ᾿Εζεκίαν ἔσχισε τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ περιεβάλετο σάκκον καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου.

2 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ῾Ελιακεὶμ τὸν οἰκονόμον καὶ Σομνᾶν τὸν γραμματέα καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῶν ἱερέων περιβεβλημένους σάκκους πρὸς ῾Ησαΐαν υἱὸν ᾿Αμὼς τὸν προφήτην,

3 καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· τάδε λέγει ᾿Εζεκίας· ἡμέρα θλίψεως καὶ ὀνειδισμοῦ καὶ ἐλεγμοῦ καὶ ὀργῆς ἡ σήμερον ἡμέρα, ὅτι ἥκει ἡ ὠδὶν τῇ τικτούσῃ, ἰσχὺν δὲ οὐκ ἔχει τοῦ τεκεῖν.

4 εἰσακούσαι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τοὺς λόγους Ραψάκου, οὓς ἀπέστειλε βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων ὀνειδίζειν Θεὸν ζῶντα καὶ ὀνειδίζειν λόγους, οὓς ἤκουσε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου· καὶ δεηθήσῃ πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου περὶ τῶν καταλελειμμένων τούτων.

5 καὶ ἦλθον οἱ παῖδες τοῦ βασιλέως ᾿Εζεκίου πρὸς ῾Ησαΐαν,

6 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ῾Ησαΐας· οὕτως ἐρεῖτε πρὸς τὸν κύριον ὑμῶν· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων, ὧν ἤκουσας, οὓς ὠνείδισάν με οἱ πρέσβεις βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων.

7 ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐμβάλλω εἰς αὐτὸν πνεῦμα, καὶ ἀκούσας ἀγγελίαν ἀποστραφήσεται εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτοῦ καὶ πεσεῖται μαχαίρᾳ ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτοῦ.

8 Καὶ ἀπέστρεψε Ραψάκης καὶ κατέλαβε τὸν βασιλέα ᾿Ασσυρίων πολιορκοῦντα Λομνάν. καὶ ἤκουσε βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων ὅτι

9 ἐξῆλθε Θαρακὰ βασιλεὺς Αἰθιόπων πολιορκῆσαι αὐτόν· καὶ ἀκούσας ἀπέστρεψε καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν λέγων·

10 οὕτως ἐρεῖτε ᾿Εζεκίᾳ βασιλεῖ τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας· μή σε ἀπατάτω ὁ Θεός σου, ἐφ᾿ ᾧ πέποιθας ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ λέγων· οὐ μὴ παραδοθῇ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εἰς χεῖρας βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων.

11 ἢ οὐκ ἤκουσας ἃ ἐποίησαν βασιλεῖς ᾿Ασσυρίων πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ὡς ἀπώλεσαν;

12 μὴ ἐρρύσαντο αὐτοὺς οἱ θεοὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν, οὓς ἀπώλεσαν οἱ πατέρες μου, τήν τε Γωζᾶν καὶ Χαρὰν καὶ Ραφές, αἵ εἰσιν ἐν χώρᾳ Θεεμάθ;

13 ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ βασιλεῖς Αἰμὰθ καὶ ᾿Αρφὰθ καὶ πόλεως Σεπφαρείμ, ᾿Ανὰγ Οὐγαυά;

14 καὶ ἔλαβεν ᾿Εζεκίας τὸ βιβλίον παρὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων, καὶ ἤνοιξεν αὐτὸ ἐναντίον Κυρίου,

15 καὶ προσηύξατο ᾿Εζεκίας πρὸς Κύριον λέγων·

16 Κύριε σαβαὼθ ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραὴλ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπὶ τῶν Χερουβίμ, σὺ Θεὸς μόνος εἶ πάσης βασιλείας τῆς οἰκουμένης, σὺ ἐποίησας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν.

17 κλῖνον, Κύριε, τὸ οὖς σου, εἰσάκουσον, Κύριε, ἄνοιξον, Κύριε, τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου, εἴσβλεψον, Κύριε, καὶ ἰδὲ τοὺς λόγους Σενναχηρείμ, οὓς ἀπέστειλεν ὀνειδίζειν Θεὸν ζῶντα.

18 ἐπ᾿ ἀληθείας γάρ, Κύριε, ἠρήμωσαν βασιλεῖς ᾿Ασσυρίων τὴν οἰκουμένην ὅλην καὶ τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν

19 καὶ ἐνέβαλον τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πῦρ· οὐ γὰρ θεοὶ ἦσαν, ἀλλὰ ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων, ξύλα καὶ λίθοι, καὶ ἀπώλεσεν αὐτούς.

20 σὺ δέ, Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, σῶσον ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῶν, ἵνα γνῷ πᾶσα βασιλεία τῆς γῆς ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ Θεὸς μόνος.

21 Καὶ ἀπεστάλη ῾Ησαΐας υἱὸς ᾿Αμὼς πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· ἤκουσα ἃ προσηύξω πρός με περὶ Σενναχηρεὶμ βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων.

22 οὗτος ὁ λόγος, ὃν ἐλάλησε περὶ αὐτοῦ ὁ Θεός· ἐφαύλισέ σε καὶ ἐμυκτήρισέ σε παρθένος θυγάτηρ Σιών, ἐπὶ σοὶ κεφαλὴν ἐκίνησε θυγάτηρ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.

23 τίνα ὠνείδισας καὶ παρώξυνας; ἢ πρὸς τίνα ὕψωσας τὴν φωνήν σου; καὶ οὐκ ᾖρας εἰς ὕψος τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου πρὸς τὸν ἅγιον τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ;

24 ὅτι δι᾿ ἀγγέλων ὠνείδισας Κύριον· σὺ γὰρ εἶπας· τῷ πλήθει τῶν ἁρμάτων ἐγὼ ἀνέβην εἰς ὕψος ὀρέων καὶ εἰς τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ Λιβάνου καὶ ἔκοψα τὸ ὕψος τῆς κέδρου αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ κάλλος τῆς κυπαρίσσου καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς ὕψος μέρος τοὺς δρυμοῦ

25 καὶ ἔθηκα γέφυραν καὶ ἠρήμωσα ὕδατα καὶ πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν ὕδατος.

26 οὐ ταῦτα ἤκουσας πάλαι, ἃ ἐγὼ ἐποίησα; ἐξ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων συνέταξα, νῦν δὲ ἐπέδειξα ἐξερημῶσαι ἔθνη ἐν ὀχυροῖς καὶ οἰκοῦντας ἐν πόλεσιν ὀχυραῖς.

27 ἀνῆκα τὰς χεῖρας, καὶ ἐξηράνθησαν καὶ ἐγένοντο ὡς χόρτος ξηρὸς ἐπὶ δωμάτων καὶ ὡς ἄγρωστις.

28 νῦν δὲ τὴν ἀνάπαυσίν σου καὶ τὴν ἔξοδόν σου καὶ τὴν εἴσοδόν σου ἐγὼ ἐπίσταμαι.

29 ὁ δὲ θυμός σου, ὃν ἐθυμώθης, καὶ ἡ πικρία σου ἀνέβη πρός με, καὶ ἐμβαλῶ φιμὸν εἰς τὴν ρῖνά σου, καὶ χαλινὸν εἰς τὰ χείλη σου καὶ ἀποστρέψω σε τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἦλθες ἐν αὐτῇ.

30 τοῦτο δέ σοι τὸ σημεῖον· φάγε τοῦτον τὸν ἐνιαυτὸν ἃ ἔσπαρκας, τῷ δὲ ἐνιαυτῷ τῷ δευτέρῳ τὸ κατάλειμμα, τῷ δὲ τρίτῳ σπείραντες ἀμήσατε καὶ φυτεύσατε ἀμπελῶνας καὶ φάγεσθε τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῶν.

31 καὶ ἔσονται οἱ καταλελειμμένοι ἐν τῇ ᾿Ιουδαίᾳ φυήσουσι ρίζαν κάτω καὶ ποιήσουσι σπέρμα ἄνω.

32 ὅτι ἐξ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἔσονται οἱ καταλελειμμένοι καὶ οἱ σῳζόμενοι ἐξ ὄρους Σιών· ὁ ζῆλος Κυρίου σαβαὼθ ποιήσει ταῦτα.

33 διὰ τοῦτο οὕτω λέγει Κύριος ἐπὶ βασιλέα ᾿Ασσυρίων· οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς τὴν πόλιν ταύτην οὐδὲ μὴ βάλῃ ἐπὶ αὐτὴν βέλος οὐδὲ μὴ ἐπιβάλῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν θυρεόν, οὐδὲ μὴ κυκλώσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν χάρακα,

34 ἀλλὰ τῇ ὁδῷ ᾗ ἦλθεν, ἐν αὐτῇ ἀποστραφήσεται καὶ εἰς τὴν πόλιν ταύτην οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ. τάδε λέγει Κύριος·

35 ὑπερασπιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης τοῦ σῶσαι αὐτὴν δι᾿ ἐμὲ καὶ διὰ Δαυὶδ τὸν παῖδά μου.

36 Καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἄγγελος Κυρίου καὶ ἀνεῖλεν ἐκ τῆς παρεμβολῆς τῶν ᾿Ασσυρίων ἑκατὸν ὀγδοηκονταπέντε χιλιάδας, καὶ ἀναστάντες τὸ πρωΐ εὗρον πάντα τὰ σώματα νεκρά.

37 καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀποστραφεὶς Σενναχηρεὶμ βασιλεὺς ᾿Ασσυρίων, καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν Νινευῇ.

38 καὶ ἐν τῷ αὐτὸν προσκυνεῖν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Νασαρὰχ τὸν πάτραρχον αὐτοῦ, ᾿Αδραμέλεχ καὶ Σαρασὰρ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπάταξαν αὐτὸν μαχαίραις, αὐτοὶ δὲ διεσώθησαν εἰς ᾿Αρμενίαν· καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ᾿Ασορδὰν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟ δὲ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἐμαλακίσθη ᾿Εζεκίας ἕως θανάτου· καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ῾Ησαΐας υἱὸς ᾿Αμὼς ὁ προφήτης καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· τάξαι περὶ τοῦ οἴκου σου, ἀποθνήσκεις γὰρ σὺ καὶ οὐ ζήσῃ.

2 καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν ᾿Εζεκίας τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν τοῖχον καὶ προσηύξατο πρὸς Κύριον

3 λέγων· μνήσθητι, Κύριε, ὡς ἐπορεύθην ἐνώπιόν σου μετὰ ἀληθείας, ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀληθινῇ, καὶ τὰ ἀρεστά ἐνώπιόν σου ἐποίησα· καὶ ἔκλαυσεν ᾿Εζεκίας κλαυθμῷ μεγάλῳ.

4 καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς ῾Ησαΐαν λέγων·

5 πορεύθητι καὶ εἰπὸν ᾿Εζεκίᾳ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρός σου· ἤκουσα τῆς προσευχῆς σου καὶ εἶδον τὰ δάκρυά σου. ἰδοὺ προστίθημι πρὸς τὸν χρόνον σου δεκαπέντε ἔτη·

6 καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως ᾿Ασσυρίων ρύσομαί σε καὶ τὴν πόλιν ταύτην καὶ ὑπερασπιῶ ὑπὲρ τῆς πόλεως ταύτης.

7 τοῦτο δὲ σοὶ τὸ σημεῖον παρὰ Κυρίου ὅτι ποιήσει ὁ Θεὸς τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο·

8 ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ στρέψω τὴν σκιὰν τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν, οὓς κατέβη ὁ ἥλιος, τοὺς δέκα ἀναβαθμοὺς τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός σου, ἀποστρέψω τὸν ἥλιον τοὺς δέκα ἀναβαθμούς. καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ ἥλιος τοὺς δέκα ἀναβαθμούς, οὓς κατέβη ἡ σκιά.

9 Προσευχὴ ᾿Εζεκίου βασιλέως τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας, ἡνίκα ἐμαλακίσθη, καὶ ἀνέστη ἐκ τῆς μαλακίας αὐτοῦ.

10 ᾿Εγὼ εἶπα· ἐν τῷ ὕψει τῶν ἡμερῶν μου πορεύσομαι ἐν πύλαις ᾅδου, καταλείψω τὰ ἔτη τὰ ἐπίλοιπα.

11 εἶπα· οὐκέτι οὐ μὴ ἴδω τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπὶ γῆς ζώντων, οὐκέτι μὴ ἴδω τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπὶ γῆς, οὐκέτι μὴ ἴδω ἄνθρωπον.

12 ἐξέλιπον ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας μου, κατέλιπον τὸ ἐπίλοιπον τῆς ζωῆς μου, ἐξῆλθε καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ὥσπερ ὁ καταλύων σκηνὴν πήξας, τὸ πνεῦμά μου παρ᾿ ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἱστὸς ἐρίθου ἐγγιζούσης ἐκτεμεῖν.

13 ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ παρεδόθην ἕως πρωΐ ὡς λέοντι· οὕτως συνέτριψε πάντα τὰ ὀστᾶ μου, ἀπὸ γὰρ τῆς ἡμέρα ἕως τῆς νυκτὸς παρεδόθην.

14 ὡς χελιδών, οὕτω φωνήσω, καὶ ὡς περιστερά, οὕτω μελετήσω· ἐξέλιπον γάρ μου οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ τοῦ βλέπειν εἰς τὸ ὕψος τοῦ οὐρανοῦ πρὸς τὸν Κύριον, ὃς ἐξείλατό με καὶ ἀφείλατό μου τὴν ὀδύνην τῆς ψυχῆς.

16 Κύριε, περὶ αὐτῆς γὰρ ἀνηγγέλη σοι, καὶ ἐξήγειράς μου τὴν πνοήν, καὶ παρακληθεὶς ἔζησα.

17 εἵλου γάρ μου τὴν ψυχήν, ἵνα μὴ ἀπόληται, καὶ ἀπέρριψας ὀπίσω μου πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας.

18 οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐν ᾅδου αἰνέσουσί σε, οὐδὲ οἱ ἀποθανόντες εὐλογήσουσί σε, οὐδὲ ἐλπιοῦσιν οἱ ἐν ᾅδου τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην σου.

19 οἱ ζῶντες εὐλογήσουσί σε ὃν τρόπον κἀγώ· ἀπὸ γὰρ τῆς σήμερον παιδία ποιήσω, ἃ ἀναγγελοῦσι τὴν δικαιοσύνην σου,

20 Κύριε τῆς σωτηρίας μου, καὶ οὐ παύσομαι εὐλογῶν σε μετὰ ψαλτηρίου πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς μου κατέναντι τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ Θεοῦ.

21 Καὶ εἶπεν ῾Ησαΐας πρὸς ᾿Εζεκίαν· λάβε παλάθην ἐκ σύκων καὶ τρίψων καὶ κατάπλασαι, καὶ ὑγιὴς ἔσῃ.

22 καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας· τοῦτο τὸ σημεῖον ὅτι ἀναβήσομαι εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ.

ΕΝ τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ἀπέστειλε Μαρωδὰχ Βαλαδὰν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Βαλαδάν, ὁ βασιλεὺς τῆς Βαβυλωνίας, ἐπιστολὰς καὶ πρέσβεις καὶ δῶρα ᾿Εζεκίᾳ· ἤκουσε γὰρ ὅτι ἐμαλακίσθη ἕως θανάτου καὶ ἀνέστη.

2 καὶ ἐχάρη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς ᾿Εζεκίας χαρὰν μεγάλην καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ νεχωθᾶ καὶ τοῦ ἀργυρίου καὶ τοῦ χρυσίου καὶ τῆς στακτῆς καὶ τῶν θυμιαμάτων καὶ τοῦ μύρου καὶ πάντας τοὺς οἴκους τῶν σκευῶν τῆς γάζης καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἦν ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἦν οὐθέν, ὃ οὐκ ἔδειξεν ᾿Εζεκίας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ.

3 καὶ ἦλθεν ῾Ησαΐας ὁ προφήτης πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ᾿Εζεκίαν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· τί λέγουσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὗτοι; καὶ πόθεν ἥκασι πρός σέ; καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας· ἐκ τῆς γῆς πόρρωθεν ἥκασι πρός με, ἐκ Βαβυλῶνος.

4 καὶ εἶπεν ῾Ησαΐας· τί εἴδοσαν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου; καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας· πάντα τὰ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου εἴδοσαν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου ᾧ οὐκ εἴδοσαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς θησαυροῖς μου.

5 καὶ εἶπεν ῾Ησαΐας αὐτῷ· ἄκουσον τὸν λόγον Κυρίου σαβαώθ·

6 ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, λέγει Κύριος, καὶ λήψονται πάντα τὰ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου, καὶ ὅσα συνήγαγον οἱ πατέρες σου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ἥξει, καὶ οὐδὲν οὐ μὴ καταλείπωσιν· εἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς

7 ὅτι καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων σου, ὧν ἐγέννησας, λήψονται καὶ ποιήσουσι σπάδοντας ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ βασιλέως τῶν Βαβυλωνίων.

8 καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εζεκίας ῾Ησαΐᾳ· ἀγαθὸς ὁ λόγος Κυρίου, ὃν ἐλάλησε· γενέσθω δὴ εἰρήνη καὶ δικαιοσύνη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου.

ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΕΙΤΕ παρακαλεῖτε τὸν λαόν μου, λέγει ὁ Θεός.

2 ἱερεῖς, λαλήσατε εἰς τὴν καρδίαν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, παρακαλέσατε αὐτήν· ὅτι ἐπλήσθη ἡ ταπείνωσις αὐτῆς, λέλυται αὐτῆς ἡ ἁμαρτία· ὅτι ἐδέξατο ἐκ χειρὸς Κυρίου διπλᾶ τὰ ἁμαρτήματα αὐτῆς.

3 φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ· ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου. εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

4 πᾶσα φάραγξ πληρωθήσεται καὶ πᾶν ὄρος καὶ βουνὸς ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ἔσται πάντα τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθεῖαν καὶ ἡ τραχεῖα εἰς ὁδοὺς λείας·

5 καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ δόξα Κυρίου, καὶ ὄψεται πᾶσα σάρξ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι Κύριος ἐλάλησε.

6 φωνὴ λέγοντος· βόησον· καὶ εἶπα· τί βοήσω; πᾶσα σάρξ χόρτος, καὶ πᾶσα δόξα ἀνθρώπου ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου·

7 ἐξηράνθη ὁ χόρτος, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος ἐξέπεσε,

8 τὸ δὲ ρῆμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

9 ἐπ᾿ ὄρος ὑψηλὸν ἀνάβηθι, ὁ εὐαγγελιζόμενος Σιών· ὕψωσον ἐν ἰσχύϊ τὴν φωνή σου, ὁ εὐαγγελιζόμενος ῾Ιερουσαλήμ· ὑψώσατε, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· εἰπὸν ταῖς πόλεσιν ᾿Ιούδα· ἰδοὺ ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν.

10 ἰδοὺ Κύριος Κύριος μετὰ ἰσχύος ἔρχεται καὶ ὁ βραχίων μετὰ κυρίας· ἰδοὺ ὁ μισθὸς αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ ἔργον ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.

11 ὡς ποιμὴν ποιμανεῖ τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ βραχίονι αὐτοῦ συνάξει ἄρνας καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσας παρακαλέσει.

12 Τί ἐμέτρησε τῇ χειρὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν σπιθαμῇ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν δρακί; τίς ἔστησε τὰ ὄρη σταθμῷ καὶ τὰς νάπας ζυγῷ;

13 τίς ἔγνω νοῦν Κυρίου, καὶ τίς αὐτοῦ σύμβουλος ἐγένετο, ὃς συμβιβᾷ αὐτόν;

14 ἢ πρὸς τίνα συνεβουλεύσατο καὶ συνεβίβασεν αὐτόν; ἢ τίς ἔδειξεν αὐτῷ κρίσιν; ἢ ὁδὸν συνέσεως τίς ἔδειξεν αὐτῷ;

15 εἰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ὡς σταγὼν ἀπὸ κάδου καὶ ὡς ροπὴ ζυγοῦ ἐλογίσθησαν καὶ ὡς σίελος λογισθήσονται·

16 ὁ δὲ Λίβανος οὐχ ἱκανὸς εἰς καῦσιν, καὶ πάντα τὰ τετράποδα οὐχ ἱκανὰ εἰς ὁλοκάρπωσιν,

17 καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ὡς οὐδέν εἰσι καὶ εἰς οὐθὲν ἐλογίσθησαν.

18 τίνι ὡμοιώσατε Κύριον καὶ τίνι ὁμοιώματι ὡμοιώσατε αὐτόν;

19 μὴ εἰκόνα ἐποίησε τέκτων, ἢ χρυσοχόος χωνεύσας χρυσίον περιεχρύσωσεν αὐτόν, ὁμοίωμα κατεσκεύασεν αὐτόν;

20 ξύλον γὰρ ἄσηπτον ἐκλέγεται τέκτων καὶ σοφῶς ζητεῖ πῶς στήσει εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἵνα μὴ σαλεύητε.

21 οὐ γνώσεσθε; οὐκ ἀκούσεσθε; οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὑμῖν; οὐκ ἔγνωτε τὰ θεμέλια τῆς γῆς;

22 ὁ κατέχων τὸν γῦρον τῆς γῆς, καὶ οἱ ἐνοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ ὡς ἀκρίδες, ὁ στήσας ὡς καμάραν τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ διατείνας ὡς σκηνὴν κατοικεῖν,

23 ὁ διδοὺς ἄρχοντας ὡς οὐδὲν ἄρχειν, τὴν δὲ γῆν ὡς οὐδὲν ἐποίησεν.

24 οὐ γὰρ μὴ φυτεύσωσιν, οὐδὲ μὴ σπείρωσιν, οὐδὲ μὴ ριζωθῇ εἰς τὴν γῆν ἡ ρίζα αὐτῶν· ἔπνευσεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐξηράνθησαν, καὶ καταιγὶς ὡς φρύγανα λήψεται αὐτούς.

25 νῦν οὖν τίνι με ὡμοιώσατε καὶ ὑψωθήσομαι; εἶπεν ὁ ἅγιος.

26 ἀναβλέψατε εἰς ὕψος τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἴδετε, τίς κατέδειξε ταῦτα πάντα; ὁ ἐκφέρων κατ᾿ ἀριθμὸν τὸν κόσμον αὐτοῦ πάντας ἐπ᾿ ὀνόματι καλέσει· ἀπὸ πολλῆς δόξης καὶ ἐν κράτει ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ οὐδέν σε ἔλαθε.

27 Μὴ γὰρ εἶπῃς, ᾿Ιακώβ, καὶ τί ἐλάλησας, ᾿Ισραήλ· ἀπεκρύβη ἡ ὁδός μου ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὁ Θεός μου τὴν κρίσιν ἀφεῖλε καὶ ἀπέστη;

28 καὶ νῦν οὐκ ἔγνως εἰ μὴ ἤκουσας; Θεὸς αἰώνιος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ κατασκευάσας τὰ ἄκρα τῆς γῆς, οὐ πεινάσει, οὐδὲ κοπιάσει, οὐδέ ἐστιν ἐξεύρεσις τῆς φρονήσεως αὐτοῦ·

29 διδοὺς τοῖς πεινῶσιν ἰσχὺν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὀδυνωμένοις λύπην.

30 πεινάσουσι γὰρ νεώτεροι, καὶ κοπιάσουσι νεανίσκοι, καὶ ἐκλεκτοὶ ἀνίσχυες ἔσονται·

31 οἱ δὲ ὑπομένοντες τὸν Θεὸν ἀλλάξουσιν ἰσχύν, πτεροφυήσουιν ὡς ἀετοί, δραμοῦνται καὶ οὐ κοπιάσουσι, βαδιοῦνται καὶ οὐ πεινάσουσιν.

ISAIAH

31

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, who trust in horses and chariots, for they are many; and in horses, which are a great multitude; and have not trusted in the Holy One of Israel, and have not sought the Lord.

2 Therefore he has wisely brought evils upon them, and his word shall not be frustrated; and he shall rise up against the houses of wicked men, and against their vain hope,

3 even an Egyptian, a man, and not God; the flesh of horses, and there is no help in them: but the Lord shall bring his hand upon them, and the helpers shall fail, and all shall perish together.

4 For thus said the Lord to me, As a lion would roar, or a lion’s whelp over prey which he has taken, and cry over it, until the mountains are filled with his voice, and all are overcome, and tremble at the greatness of his wrath: so shall the Lord of Sabaoth come down to fight upon the mount Sion, even upon her mountains.

5 As birds flying, so shall the Lord of Sabaoth defend; he shall defend Jerusalem, and he shall rescue, and save and deliver.

6 Turn, ye that imagine a deep and sinful counsel.

7 For in that day men shall renounce their silver idols and their golden idols, which their hands made.

8 And the Assyrian shall fall: not the sword of a great man, nor the sword of a mean man shall devour him; neither shall he flee from the face of the sword: but the young men shall be overthrown:

9 for they shall be compassed with rocks as with a trench, and shall be defeated; and he that fleeth shall be taken. Thus saith the Lord, Blessed is he that hath a seed in Sion, and kindred in Jerusalem.

For, behold, a righteous king shall reign, and princes shall govern with judgment.

2 And a man shall hide his words, and be hidden, as from rushing water, and shall appear in Sion as a rushing river, glorious in a thirsty land.

3 And they shall no more trust in men, but they shall incline their ears to hear.

4 And the heart of the weak ones shall attend to hear, and the stammering tongues shall soon learn to speak peace.

5 And they shall no more at all tell a fool to rule, and thy servants shall no more at all say, Be silent.

6 For the fool shall speak foolish words, and his heart shall meditate vanities, and to perform lawless deeds and to speak error against the Lord, to scatter hungry souls, and he will cause the thirsty souls to be empty.

7 For the counsel of the wicked will plan lawless things, to ruin the humble with unjust words and to scatter the words of the humble in judgment.

8 But the godly have devised wise measures, and this counsel shall stand.

9 Rise up, ye rich women, and hear my voice; ye daughters in hope, hearken to my words.

10 Remember for a full year in pain, yet with hope: the vintage has been consumed; the sowing has ceased and will no longer come.

11 Be amazed, be grieved, ye women that are confident: strip you, make you bare, gird sackcloth upon your loins;

12 and beat upon your breasts, for the desirable field, and for a fruitful vine.

13 As for the land of my people, the thorn and grass shall come upon it, and joy shall be removed from every house.

14 As for the rich city, the houses are deserted; they shall forsake the riches of the city, and the desirable houses: and the villages shall be caverns for ever, the joy of wild asses, and pastures for shepherds;

15 until the Spirit shall come upon you from on high, and Chermel shall be desert, and Chermel shall be counted for a forest.

16 Then judgment shall abide in the wilderness, and righteousness shall dwell in Carmel.

17 And the works of righteousness shall be peace; and righteousness shall ensure rest, and the righteous shall be confident for ever.

18 And his people shall inhabit a city of peace, and dwell in it in confidence, and they shall rest with wealth.

19 And if the hail should come down, it shall not come upon you; and they that dwell in the forests shall be in confidence, as those in the plain country.

20 Blessed are they that sow by every water, where the ox and ass tread.

Woe to them that afflict you, though none afflicteth you: and he that dealeth treacherously with you, though none dealeth treacherously with you: and they that deal treacherously with you shall be taken and delivered up; and as a moth in a garment, so shall they be vanquished.

2 O Lord, have mercy upon us; for we have trusted in thee: the seed of the rebellious is gone to destruction, but our deliverance was in a time of affliction.

3 Because of thy frightful voice, the peoples were dismayed for fear of Thee, and the nations were scattered.

4 And now shall the spoils of your small and great be gathered: as if one should gather locusts, so shall they mock you.

5 The God who dwells on high is holy: Sion is filled with judgment and righteousness.

6 They shall be delivered up to the law: our salvation is our treasure: there are wisdom and knowledge and piety toward the Lord; these are the treasures of righteousness.

7 Behold now, these shall be terrified with fear of you: those whom ye feared shall cry out because of you: messengers shall be sent, bitterly weeping, entreating for peace.

8 For the ways of these shall be made desolate: the terror of the nations has been made to cease, and the covenant with these is taken away, and ye shall by no means deem them men.

9 The land mourns; Lebanon is ashamed: Saron is become marshes; Galilee and Carmel will become visible.

10 Now will I arise, saith the Lord, now will I be glorified; now will I be exalted.

11 Now shall ye see, now shall ye perceive; the strength of your breath, shall be vain; fire shall devour you.

12 And the nations shall be burnt up; as a thorn in the field cast out and burnt up.

13 They that are afar off shall hear what I have done; they that draw nigh shall know my strength.

14 The sinners in Sion have departed; trembling shall seize the ungodly. Who will tell you that a fire is kindled? Who will tell you of the eternal place?

15 He that walks in righteousness, speaking a straight way, hating lawlessness and unrighteousness and shaking off his hands from gifts, stopping his ears that he should not hear the judgment of blood, shutting his eyes that he should not see injustice.

16 he shall dwell in a high cave of a strong rock: bread shall be given him, and his water shall be sure.

17 Ye shall see a king with glory: your eyes shall behold a land from afar.

18 Your soul shall meditate terror. Where are the scribes? where are the counsellors, where is he that numbers them that are growing up,

19 even the small and great people? with whom he took not counsel, neither did he understand a people of deep speech, so that a despised people should not hear, and there is no understanding to him that hears.

20 Behold the city Sion, our salvation: thine eyes shall behold Jerusalem, a rich city, tabernacles which shall not be shaken, neither shall the pins of her tabernacle be moved for ever, neither shall her cords be at all broken:

21 for the name of the Lord is great to you: ye shall have a place, even rivers and wide and spacious channels: thou shalt not go this way, neither a vessel with oars go thereby.

22 For my God is great; the Lord will not pass me by. The Lord is our judge; the Lord is our ruler; the Lord is our king; he will save us.

23 Thy cords are broken, for they had no strength; thy mast hath given way, it shall not spread the sails, it shall not bear a signal, until it be given up for spoil; therefore shall many that are lame take spoil.

24 And the people that dwell among them shall by no means say, I am sick: for their sin shall be forgiven them.

Draw near, ye nations; and hearken, ye princes; let the earth hear, and they that are in it; the world, and the people that are therein.

2 For the wrath of the Lord is upon all nations, and his anger upon the number of them, to destroy them, and give them up to slaughter.

3 Their wounded and their dead shall be cast out, and their stench shall rise; the mountains shall be drenched with their blood.

4 And all the powers of the heavens shall melt, and the sky shall be rolled up like a scroll: and all the stars shall fall like leaves from a vine, and as leaves fall from a fig-tree.

5 My sword has been made drunk in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of destruction with judgment.

6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood; it is gorged with the fat of lambs and with the fat of goats and rams,because the Lord has a sacrifice in Bosor and a great slaughter in Idumea.

7 And the mighty ones shall fall with them, and the rams and the bulls; and the land shall be made drunken with blood, and shall be filled with their fat.

8 For it is the day of judgment of the Lord, and the year of the recompence of Sion in judgment.

9 And her valleys shall be turned into pitch, and her land into sulphur; and her land shall be as pitch burning

10 night and day, and it shall not be quenched forever, and its smoke shall go up above; for generations it shall be made desolate; indeed, for a long time,

11 birds and hedgehogs, and ibises and ravens shall dwell in it: and the measuring line of desolation shall be cast over it, and satyrs shall dwell in it.

12 Her princes shall be no more; for her kings and her great men shall be destroyed.

13 Thorn trees shall grow up in their cities and in her fortresses. It shall be a habitation of sirens and a courtyard of ostriches

14 And devils shall meet with satyrs, and they shall cry one to the other: there shall satyrs rest, having found for themselves a place of rest.

15 There has the hedgehog made its nest, and the earth has safely preserved its young: there have the deer met, and seen one another’s faces.

16 They passed by in full number, and not one of them perished: they sought not one another; for the Lord commanded them, and his Spirit gathered them.

17And He shall cast lots for them, and His hand hath portioned out their pasture, saying Ye shall inherit the land for ever: from generation to generation shall they rest therein.

Be glad, thou thirsty desert: let the wilderness exult, and flower as the lily.

2 And the desert places of Jordan shall blossom and rejoice; the glory of Lebanon has been given to it, and the honour of Carmel; and my people shall see the glory of the Lord, and the majesty of God.

3 Be strong, ye relaxed hands and palsied knees.

4 Comfort one another, ye fainthearted in mind; be strong, fear not; behold, our God renders judgment, and he will render it; he will come and save us.

5 Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear.

6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of stammerers shall be clear, because water has broken forth in the wilderness and a channel in a thirsty land;

7 the dry place shall turn into marshlands, and in the thirsty land there shall be a spring of water; the joy of birds shall be there—a bed of reed and marshlands.

8 There shall be there a pure way, and it shall be called a holy way; and there shall not pass by there any unclean person, neither shall there be there an unclean way; but the dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray.

9 And no lion shall be there, nor shall any of the evil beasts come up on it or be found there, but the redeemed shall walk on it.

10 And those gathered together because of the Lord shall return and come to Sion with joy; everlasting joy shall be above their head, for upon their head shall be praise and gladness, and joy shall take hold of them— pain and sorrow and sighing have fled away.

Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of the reign of Ezekias, that Sennacherim, king of the Assyrians, came up against the strong cities of Judea, and took them.

2 And the king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaces out of Laches to Jerusalem to king Ezekias with a large force: and he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the way of the fuller’s field.

3 And there went forth to him Heliakim the steward, the son of Chelcias, and Somnas the scribe, and Joach the son of Asaph, the recorder.

4 And Rabsaces said to them, Say to Ezekias, Thus says the great king, the king of the Assyrians, Why art thou secure?

5 Is war carried on with counsel and mere words of the lips? and now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

6 Behold, thou trustest on this bruised staff of reed, on Egypt: as soon as a man leans upon it, it shall go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharao king of Egypt and all that trust in him.

7 But if ye say, We trust in the Lord our God;

8 yet now make an agreement with my lord the king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses, if ye shall be able to set riders upon them.

9 How then are ye able to turn your face against them that govern? They that trust on the Egyptians for horse and rider are servants.

10 And now, Have we come up against this land to fight against it without the Lord? The Lord said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.

11 Then Eliakim and Somnas and Joach said to him, Speak to thy servants in the Syrian tongue; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jewish tongue: and wherefore speakest thou in the ears of the men on the wall?

12 And Rabsaces said to them, Has my lord sent me to your lord or to you, to speak these words? has he not sent me to the men that sit on the wall, that they may eat dung, and drink urine together with you?

13 And Rabsaces stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jewish language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of the Assyrians:

14 thus says the king, Let not Ezekias deceive you with words: he will not be able to deliver you.

15 And let not Ezekias say to you, That God will deliver you, and this city will not at all be delivered into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.

16 Hearken not to Ezekias: thus says the king of the Assyrians, If ye wish to be blessed, come out to me: and ye shall eat every one of his vine and his fig-trees, and ye shall drink water out of your own cisterns:

17 until I come and take you to a land, like your own land, a land of corn and wine, and bread, and vineyards.

18 Let not Ezekias deceive you, saying, God will deliver you. Have the gods of the nations delivered each one his own land out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians?

19 Where is the god of Hemath and Arphad? And
where is the god of the city of Seppharim? Have they been able to deliver Samaria out of my hand?

20 Which is the god of all these nations, that has delivered his land out of my hand, that God should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

21 And they were silent, and none answered him a word; because the king had commanded that none should answer.

22 And Heliakim the son of Chelcias, the steward, and Somnas the military scribe, and Joach the son of Asaph, the recorder, came in to Ezekias, having their garments rent, and they reported to him the words of Rabsaces.

And it came to pass, when king Ezekias heard it, that he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and went up to the house of the Lord.

2 And he sent Heliakim the steward, and Somnas the scribe, and the elders of the priests clothed with sackcloth, to Esaias the son of Amos, the prophet.

3 And they said to him, Thus says Ezekias, To-day is a day of affliction, and reproach, and rebuke, and anger: for the pangs are come upon the travailing woman, but she has not strength to bring forth.

4 May the Lord thy God hear the words of Rabsaces, which the king of the Assyrians has sent, to reproach the living God, even to reproach with the words which the Lord thy God has heard: therefore thou shalt pray to thy Lord for these that are left.

5 So the servants of king Ezekias came to Esaias.

6 And Esaias said to them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not thou afraid at the words which thou hast heard, wherewith the ambassadors of the king of the Assyrians have reproached me,

7 Behold, I do send a spirit in him, and he shall hear a report, and return to his own country, and he shall fall by the sword in his own land.

8 Rabsaces returned and found the king besieging Lomna. And the king of the Assyrians heard that

9 Tharaca king of the Ethiopians went forth to attack him. And when he heard it, he turned aside, and sent messengers to Ezekias, saying,

10 Thus shall ye say to Ezekias king of Judea, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.

11 Hast thou not heard what the kings of the Assyrians have done, how they have destroyed the whole earth?

12 Have the gods of the nations which my fathers destroyed delivered them, both Gozan, and Charrhan, and Rapheth, which are in the land of Theemath?

13 Where are the kings of Emath? and where is the king of Arphath and of the city of Seppharim, and of Anag Ugana?

14 And Ezekias received the letter from the messengers, and opened it before the Lord.

15 And Ezekias prayed to the Lord, saying,

16 O Lord of Sabaoth, God of Israel, who sittest upon the cherubim, thou alone art the God of every kingdom of the world: thou hast made heaven and earth.

17 Incline thine ear, O Lord, hearken, O Lord; open thine eyes, O Lord, look, O Lord: and behold the words of Sennacherim, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

18 For of a truth, Lord, the kings of the Assyrians have laid waste the whole world, and the countries thereof,

19 and have cast their idols into the fire: for, they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; and they have cast them away.

20 But now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hands, that every kingdom of the earth may know that thou art God alone.

21 And Esaias the son of Amos was sent to Ezekias, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, I have heard thy prayer to me concerning Sennacherim king of the Assyrians.

22 This is the word which God has spoken concerning him; The virgin daughter of Sion has despised thee, and mocked thee; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at thee.

23 Whom hast thou reproached and provoked? and against whom hast thou lifted up thy voice? and hast thou not lifted up thine eyes on high against the Holy One of Israel?

24 For thou hast reproached the Lord by messengers; for thou hast said, With the multitude of chariots have I ascended to the height of mountains, and to the sides of Lebanon; and I have cropped the height of his cedars and the beauty of his cypresses; and I entered into the height of the forest region:

25 and I have made a bridge, and dried up the waters, and every pool of water.

26 Hast thou not heard of these things which I did of old? I appointed them from ancient times; but now have I manifested my purpose of desolating nations in their strong holds, and them that dwell in strong cities.

27 I weakened their hands, and they withered; and they became as dry grass on the house-tops, and as wild grass.

28 But now I know thy rest, and thy going out, and thy coming in.

29 And thy wrath wherewith thou hast been enraged, and thy bitterness has come up to me; therefore I will put a hook in thy nose, and a bit in thy lips, and will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

30 And this shall be a sign to thee, Eat this year what thou hast sown; and the second year that which is left: and the third year sow, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

31 And they that are left in Judea shall take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

32 for out of Jerusalem there shall be a remnant, and the saved ones out of mount Sion: the zeal of the Lord of Sabaoth shall perform this.

33 Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians, He shall not enter into this city, nor cast an arrow against it, nor bring a shield against it, nor make a rampart round it.

34 But by the way by which he came, by it shall he return, and shall not enter into this city: thus saith the Lord.

35 I will protect this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

36 And the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew out of the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand: and they arose in the morning and found all these bodies dead.

37 And Sennacherim king of the Assyrians turned and departed, and dwelt in Nineve.

38 And while he was worshipping Nasarach his country’s god in the house, Adramelech and Sarasar his sons smote him with swords; and they escaped into Armenia: and Asordan his son reigned in his stead.

And it came to pass at that time, that Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give orders concerning thy house: for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 And Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,

3 Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in thy sight. And Ezekias wept bitterly.

4 And the word of the Lord came to Esaias, saying,

5 Go, and say to Ezekias, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and seen thy tears: behold, I will add to thy time fifteen years.

6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians: and I will defend this city.

7 And this shall be a sign to thee from the Lord, that God will do this thing;

8 behold, I will turn back the shadow of the degrees, on which the sun is gone down in the house of thy father, by ten degrees; I will turn the sun backward for those ten degrees. So the sun went back the ten degrees on which the shadow had gone down.

9 Prayer of Ezekias King of Judea, when he had become sick and had recovered from his sickness:

10 I said in the end of my days, I shall go to the gates of Hades: I shall leave behind the residue of my years.

11 I said, I shall no more at all see the salvation of God in the land of the living: I shall no more at all see the salvation of Israel on the earth: I shall no more at all see man.

12 My life has failed from among my kindred: I have left behind the rest of my life; it has gone forth and departed from me, as one that having pitched a tent takes it down again: my spirit in me became like the web of a weaver who approaches to cut it off.

13 In that day I was given up as to a lion until the morning: so has he broken all my bones: for I was so given up from day even to night.

14 As a swallow, so will I cry, and as a dove, so do I mourn: for mine eyes have failed with looking to the height of heaven to the Lord, who has delivered me, and removed the sorrow of my soul.

16 Yea, O Lord, for it was told thee concerning this; and thou hast revived my breath; and I am comforted, and live.

17 For thou hast chosen my soul, that it should not perish: and thou hast cast all my sins behind me.

18 For they that are in Hades shall not praise thee, neither shall the dead bless thee, neither shall they that are in Hades hope for thy mercy.

19 The living shall bless thee, as I also do: for from this day shall I beget children, who shall declare thy righteousness,

20 O God of my salvation; and I will not cease blessing thee with the psaltery all the days of my life before the house of God.

21 Now Esaias had said to Ezekias; Take a cake of figs, and mash them, and apply them as a plaster, and thou shalt be well.

22 And Ezekias said, This is a sign that I shall go up to the house of God.

At that time Marodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylonia, sent letters and ambassadors and gifts to Ezekias: for he had heard that he had been sick even to death, and was recovered.

2 And Hezekiah rejoiced over them with great joy, and shewed them the house of the treasure, and of the silver, and of the gold, and of the balsam, and of the incense, and of the myrrh, and all the houses of the vessels of the treasures, and all that he had in his storehouses: and there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, which Hezekiah did not shew.

3 And Esaias the prophet came to king Ezekias, and said to him, What say these men? and whence came they to thee? and Ezekias said, They are come to me from a land afar off, from Babylon.

4 And Esaias said, What have they seen in thine house? and Ezekias said, They have seen everything in my house; and there is nothing in my house which they have not seen: yea, also the possessions in my treasuries.

5 And Esaias said to him, Hear the word of the Lord of Sabaoth:

6 Behold, the days come, when they shall take all the things that are in thine house, and all that thy fathers have gathered until this day, shall go to Babylon; and they shall not leave anything at all: and God hath said,

7 that they shall take also of thy children whom thou shalt beget; and they shall make them eunuchs in the house of the king of the Babylonians.

8 And Ezekias said to Esaias, Good is the word of the Lord, which he hath spoken: let there, I pray, be peace and righteousness in my days.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith God.

2 Speak, ye priests, to the heart of Jerusalem; comfort her, for her humiliation is accomplished, her sin is put away: for she has received of the Lord’s hand double the amount of her sins.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God.

4 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and all the crooked ways shall become straight, and the rough places plains.

5 And the glory of the Lord shall appear, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God: for the Lord has spoken it.

6 The voice of one saying, Cry; and I said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass:

7 The grass withers, and the flower fades:

8 but the word of our God abides for ever.

9 O thou that bringest glad tidings to Zion, go up on the high mountain; lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest glad tidings to Jerusalem; lift it up, fear not; say unto the cities of Juda, Behold your God!

10 Behold the Lord! The Lord is coming with strength, and his arm is with power: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

11 He shall tend his flock as a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and shall comfort them that are with young.

12 Who has measured the water in his hand, and the heaven with a span, and all the earth in a handful? Who has weighed the mountains in scales, and the forests in a balance?

13 Who has known the mind of the Lord? and who has been his counsellor, to instruct him?

14 Or with whom has he taken counsel, and he has instructed him? or who has taught him judgment, or who has taught him the way of understanding;

15 If all the nations are counted as a drop from a bucket, and as the sinking of a balance, they shall be counted as spittle.

16 And Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor all beasts enough for a whole-burnt offering:

17 and all the nations are as nothing, and counted as nothing.

18 To whom have ye compared the Lord? and with what likeness have ye compared him?

19 Has not the artificer made an image, or the goldsmith having melted gold, gilt it over, and made it a similitude?

20 For the artificer chooses out a wood that will not rot, and will wisely enquire how he shall set up his image, and that so that it should not be moved.

21 Will ye not know? will ye not hear? has it not been told you of old? Have ye not known the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he that comprehends the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants in it are as grasshoppers; he that set up the heaven as a chamber, and stretched it out as a tent to dwell in:

23 he that appoints princes to rule as nothing, and has made the earth as nothing.

24 For they shall not plant, neither shall they sow, neither shall their root be fixed in the ground: he has blown upon them, and they are withered, and a storm shall carry them away like sticks.

25 Now then to whom have ye compared me, that I may be exalted? saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see, who has displayed all these things? even he that brings forth his host by number: he shall call them all by name by means of his great glory, and by the power of his might: nothing has escaped thee.

27 For say not thou, O Jacob, and why hast thou spoken, Israel, saying, My way is hid from God, and my God has taken away my judgement, and has departed?

28 And now, hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? the eternal God, the God that formed the ends of the earth, shall not hunger, nor be weary, and there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He gives strength to the hungry, and sorrow to them that are not suffering.

30 For the young men shall hunger, and the youths shall be weary, and the choice men shall be powerless:

31 but they that wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall put forth new feathers like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not hunger.

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