1 Ngonyaka weshumi elinesine wokulawula kukakumkani uHezekiya kwelakwaJuda, ukumkani waseAsiriya uSenakeribhe wazihlasela wazithimba zonke izixeko ezinqatyisiweyo zakwaJuda.
2 Ke kaloku wandulula ingqwayi-ngqwayi yakhe eLakishe, eyithumela eJerusalem nomkhosi omkhulu. Ingqwayi-ngqwayi leyo ke yema kwindlela ebheka apho kusetyenzwa khona amalaphu, ngakumjelo otsala amanzi kwiqula elingentla.
3 Yahlangatyezwa nguEliyakim unyana kaHilekiya umaqhuzu wakomkhulu, noShebhena unobhala wenkundla, ndawonye noJowa unyana ka-Asafu usiba-khulu.
4 Ingqwayi-ngqwayi yathetha nabo yathi: “Xelelani uHezekiya nithi: ‘Ithethe ngolu hlobo ingangalala ukumkani waseAsiriya: Njengokuba uzithembe kangaka nje, Hezekiya, uqamele ngantoni kanye?
5 Akuzilibali unamacebo nobuchule bomkhosi onamandla. Awu, waza walavuza kambe! Ukholose ngabani undivukela nje?
6 Jonga, ndiyazi ukuba uthembele ngeJiputa. Xa ingubani yona, umsimelelo ofana nengcongolo entlekekileyo, ojika uhlabe izandla zomntu osimelela ngawo, umtsho abe namanxeba. Ewe, unjalo ukumkani waseJiputa; ubenjenjalo bonke abakholosa ngaye.
7 Mhlawumbi ke uthi: “Hayi, thina sikholose *ngoNdikhoyo uThixo wethu.” Kanene lowo asingulo uHezekiya amdilizele iindawo eziphakamileyo zonqulo, wabhangisa namaqonga amadini akhe, esithi kuJuda neJerusalem: “Yizani kunqula kwiqonga eliseJerusalem kuphela”?