"Did Hezekiahkingof Judahand allJudahputhim to death?Did he not fearthe LORDand entreatthe favorof the LORD,and the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe misfortunewhichHe had pronouncedagainstthem? But we are committinga greatevilagainstourselves."
When the angelstretchedout his handtoward Jerusalemto destroyit, the LORDrelentedfrom the calamityand saidto the angelwho destroyedthe people,"It is enough!Nowrelaxyour hand!"And the angelof the LORDwas by the threshingfloorof Araunahthe Jebusite.
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
but ifit is of God,you will not be ableto overthrowthem; or elseyou may evenbe foundfighting against God."
Perhapsthe LORDyour Godwill hearthe wordsof Rabshakeh,whomhis masterthe kingof Assyriahas sentto reproachthe livingGod,and will rebukethe wordswhichthe LORDyour Godhas heard.Therefore, offera prayerfor the remnantthat is left.'"
And when KingHezekiahheard[it], he torehis clothes,coveredhimself with sackclothand enteredthe houseof the LORD.
for they pouredout the bloodof saintsand prophets,and You have giventhem bloodto drink.They deserveit."
sothat upon you may fall[the guilt of] allthe righteousbloodshedon earth,from the bloodof righteousAbelto the bloodof Zechariah,the sonof Berechiah,whomyou murderedbetweenthe templeand the altar.
"You have deviseda shamefulthingfor your houseBy cuttingoffmanypeoples;So you are sinningagainst yourself.
Nowthen thussaysthe LORDGodof hosts,the Godof Israel,"Whyare you doinggreatharmto yourselves,so as to cutofffrom you manand woman,childand infant,from amongJudah,leavingyourselves withoutremnant,
"Onlyknowfor certainthat ifyou putme to death,you will bringinnocentbloodon yourselves, and on thiscityand on its inhabitants;for trulythe LORDhas sentme to you to speakallthesewordsin your hearing."
Perhapsthey will listenand everyonewill turnfrom his evilway,that I may repentof the calamitywhichI am planningto doto them becauseof the evilof their deeds.'
For behold,the LORDis about to comeout from His placeTo punishthe inhabitantsof the earthfor their iniquity;And the earthwill revealher bloodshedAnd will nolongercoverher slain.
"Go,inquireof the LORDfor me and for those who are leftin Israeland in Judah,concerningthe wordsof the bookwhichhas been found;for greatis the wrathof the LORDwhichis pouredout on us becauseour fathershave not observedthe wordof the LORD,to doaccording to allthat is writtenin thisbook."
But KingHezekiahand Isaiahthe prophet,the sonof Amoz,prayedaboutthisand criedout to heaven.
"As for the censersof thesemenwhohave sinnedat the cost of their lives,let them be madeinto hammeredsheetsfor a platingof the altar,sincethey did presentthem beforethe LORDand they are holy;and they shall be for a signto the sonsof Israel."
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."It shall not be," saidthe LORD.
Now [the town of] Bethelhad sentSharezerand Regemmelechand their mento seekthe favorof the LORD,
