“‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? ⁵ You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel^(A) against me? ⁶ Look, I know you are depending^(B) on Egypt,^(C) that splintered reed^(D) of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. ⁷ But if you say to me, “We are depending^(E) on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed,^(F) saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar”?^(G)

⁸ “‘Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses^(H)—if you can put riders on them! ⁹ How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt^(I) for chariots^(J) and horsemen^[a]?^{(K) 10} Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord? The Lord himself told^(L) me to march against this country and destroy it.’”