[1] Soon afterwards, the king of Babylon (Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan) sent Hezekiah a present and his best wishes, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and now was well again. [2] Hezekiah appreciated this and took the envoys from Babylon on a tour of the palace, showing them his treasure-house full of silver, gold, spices, and perfumes. He took them into his jewel rooms, too, and opened to them all his treasures-everything. [3] Then Isaiah the prophet came to the king and said, "What did they say? Where are they from?" "From far away in Babylon," Hezekiah replied. [4] "How much have they seen?" asked Isaiah. And Hezekiah replied, "I showed them everything I own, all my priceless treasures." [5] Then Isaiah said to him, "Listen to this message from the Lord Almighty: [6] "The time is coming when everything you have-all the treasures stored up by your fathers-will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left. [7] And some of your own sons will become slaves, yes, eunuchs, in the palace of the king of Babylon." [8] "All right," Hezekiah replied. "Whatever the Lord says is good. At least there will be peace during my lifetime!"
