20 Isaiah went to Hezekiah and told him that the Lord God of Israel had said:Hezekiah, I heard your prayer about King Sennacherib of Assyria.
21 Now this is what I say to that king:The people of Jerusalemhate and make fun of you;they laughbehind your back.
22 Sennacherib, you cursed,shouted, and sneered at me,the holy God of Israel.
23 You let your officialsinsult me, the Lord.And this is how youbragged about yourself:“I led my chariotsto the highest heightsof Lebanon's mountains.I went deep into its forest,cutting down the best cedarand cypress trees.
24 I dried up every streamin the land of Egypt,and I drank waterfrom wells I had dug.”
25 Sennacherib, now listento me, the Lord.I planned all this long ago.And you don't even realizethat I alone am the onewho decided that youwould do these things.I let you make ruinsof fortified cities.
26 Their people became weak,terribly confused.They were like wild flowersor tender young grassgrowing on a flat roof,scorched before it matures.