Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the language of the Jews when the people on the wall are listening.”
Isaiah 36:21 - Tree of Life Version But they were silent, and did not answer him a word, for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition But they kept still and answered him not a word, for the king's [Hezekiah's] command was, Do not answer him. American Standard Version (1901) But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not. Common English Bible But they kept quiet and didn’t answer him with a single word, because King Hezekiah’s command was, “Don’t answer him!” Catholic Public Domain Version And they remained silent and did not answer a word to him. For the king had commanded them, saying, "You shall not respond to him." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And they held their peace, and answered him not a word. For the king had commanded, saying: answer him not. |
Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rab-shakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the language of the Jews when the people on the wall are listening.”
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rab-shakeh.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, else you also will be like him.
Therefore the prudent keep silent at such a time —for it is a distressful time.
“Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet, then turn and rip you to shreds.