Thereforeat sucha timethe prudentperson keepssilent,for it is an eviltime.
But the peoplewere silentand answeredhim not a word,for the king'scommandmentwas, "Do not answerhim."
"Shall I wait,becausethey do not speak,Becausethey stop[and] nolongeranswer?
Yes, I am like a manwhodoes not hear,And in whose mouthare noarguments.
A timeto tearapartand a timeto sewtogether;A timeto be silentand a timeto speak.
Moreover,mandoes not knowhis time:like fishcaughtin a treacherousnetand birdstrappedin a snare,so the sonsof menare ensnaredat an eviltimewhen it suddenlyfallson them.
But they were silentand answeredhim not a word;for the king'scommandmentwas, "Do not answerhim."
They saidto him, "ThussaysHezekiah,'Thisdayis a dayof distress,rebukeand rejection;for childrenhave cometo birth,and thereis nostrengthto deliver.
Yetlet noonefindfault,and let noneofferreproof;For your peopleare like those who contendwith the priest.
Then one's uncle,or his undertaker,will lifthim up to carryout [his] bonesfrom the house,and he will sayto the one whois in the innermostpartof the house,"Is anyone elsewith you?" And that one will say,"Noone."Then he will answer,"Keepquiet.For the nameof the LORDis not to be mentioned."
Thereforethussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am planningagainstthisfamilya calamityFrom whichyou cannotremoveyour necks;And you will not walkhaughtily,For it will be an eviltime.
I heardand my inwardpartstrembled,At the soundmy lipsquivered.Decayentersmy bones,And in my placeI tremble.BecauseI must waitquietlyfor the dayof distress,For the peopleto arise[who] will invadeus.
Therefore,takeup the full armorof God,sothat you will be ableto resistin the evilday,and having doneeverything,to stand firm.
But realizethis,that in the lastdaysdifficulttimeswill come.
