[37:1] As soon as King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes in grief, put on sackcloth, and went to the Temple of the Lord.
[37:2] He sent Eliakim, the official in charge of the palace, Shebna, the court secretary, and the senior priests to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They also were wearing sackcloth.
[37:3] This is the message which he told them to give to Isaiah: “Today is a day of suffering; we are being punished and are in disgrace. We are like a woman who is ready to give birth, but is too weak to do it.
[37:4] The Assyrian emperor has sent his chief official to insult the living God. May the Lord your God hear these insults and punish those who spoke them. So pray to God for those of our people who survive.”
[37:5] When Isaiah received King Hezekiah's message,
[37:6] he sent back this answer: “The Lord tells you not to let the Assyrians frighten you by their claims that he cannot save you.
[37:7] The Lord will cause the emperor to hear a rumor that will make him go back to his own country, and the Lord will have him killed there.”