²² Suppose you say to me: We trust in the Lord our God. Isn’t He the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed,^(A) saying to Judah and to Jerusalem: You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem?’

²³ “So now make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I’ll give you 2,000 horses if you’re able to supply riders for them! ²⁴ How then can you drive back a single officer^(B) among the least of my master’s servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? ²⁵ Have I attacked this place to destroy it without the Lord’s approval?^(C) The Lord said to me, ‘Attack this land and destroy it.’”

³⁰ Don’t let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord by saying: Certainly the Lord will deliver us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.’^(A)

³⁵ Who among all the gods of the lands has delivered his land from my power? So will the Lord deliver Jerusalem?’”^(A)