Isaiah 39:1-8

Shortly after Hezekiah was healed of his illness, the king of Babylon, Merodach-Baladan, son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been deathly ill and had recovered. So he sent envoys carrying letters and a lavish gift. Delighted by the king’s gesture, and having a desire to impress them, Hezekiah welcomed the envoys from Babylon and opened the doors of the king’s storehouses of treasures and showed them to the envoys. He let them see all of his gold, silver, spices, and costly fragrant oils, as well as his entire armory. All of the king’s royal treasures, all that was in the king’s palace, and all the wealth of his whole kingdom was shown to them. Then Isaiah the prophet visited the king and said to him, “What have you done? What did these men say and where did they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They are envoys from distant Babylon.” Then Isaiah asked, “What did they see in your palace?” “They have seen everything in my palace,” responded Hezekiah. “I showed them everything in my royal treasuries.” Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Here is what YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, has to say to you: ‘The days are coming when all the treasures in your palace and all the wealth that your ancestors have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon; absolutely nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ‘Some of your own sons who come after you will be deported and become high officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word YAHWEH has spoken through you is good and right.” For he thought, “At least for me, there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”