4 Kwaqokelelwa iqela elikhulu labantu, baza bayivala yonke imithombo kunye nentlambo eyayinqumla kwelo lizwe. Babesithi: “Asinakubayeka ookumkani baseAsiriya beze, ze bafumane amanzi angaka.”
5 Wazabalaza ezilungisa zonke iindawo ezonakeleyo eludongeni, esakha neenqaba eziphakamileyo. Wakha nolunye udonga ngaphaya kwalo, waza walomeleza ungqameko lwesixeko sikaDavide. Kananjalo wenza nentaphane yezixhobo kunye namakhaka.
6 Abantu wabamisela amagosa omkhosi, waza wabaqokelela ebaleni lesixeko ngasesangweni, wabakhuthaza ngala mazwi, wathi:
7 “Yomelelani nikhaliphe! Ze ningabi nadyudyu okanye nityhafe ngenxa yokumkani waseAsiriya nomkhosi wakhe omkhulu; kaloku baninzi abangakuthi kunabo bangakuye.
8 Ngakuye ngamandla omntu, ukanti ngakuthi *nguNdikhoyo uThixo wethu oza kusinceda asilwele amadabi ethu.” Ke abantu batsho bomelela ngaloo mazwi kaHezekiya ukumkani wakwaJuda.
9 Kamva ke xa uSenakeribhe ukumkani waseAsiriya nomkhosi wakhe uphela babengqinge iLakishe, wathumela amagosa akhe nalo myalezo, ewubhekisa kuHezekiya ukumkani wakwaJuda kunye nabo bonke abantu bakwaJuda ababeseJerusalem, esithi:
10 “Ukumkani waseAsiriya uSenakeribhe uthi: Khanitsho, niqamele ngani, ukuze nihlale ngaphakathi kweJerusalem engqingiweyo nje?