Isaiah 36:1-7

11When King Hezekiah had ruled Judah for 14 years, King Sennacherib of Assyria attacked Judah with his army. He took all the strong cities in Judah for himself.

2Then the king of Assyria sent his army officer from Lachish to Jerusalem, to speak to King Hezekiah. The officer took a large army with him. He stopped at the stream of water that came from the higher pool. It was on the road to the field where people washed clothes.

3These people came out to meet him: Hilkiah's son Eliakim, who was the most important officer in the king's palace. Shebna, a government officer. Asaph's son, Joah, the king's secretary.

4The Assyrian army officer said to them, ‘Tell Hezekiah that the great king, the king of Assyria, says this to him: “Why are you so sure that someone will rescue you from our power?

5You say that you have good plans. You say that your army is strong. But those are only useless words! You have turned against me, so who are you trusting to save you?

6Yes, you think that Egypt is strong enough to help you. But you should not trust Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He is like a weak stick. If you use it to walk with, it will break! A broken piece of stick will make a hole through your hand and give you much pain! That is the trouble that the king of Egypt brings to everyone who trusts him to help them.

7Maybe you will say to me, ‘We are trusting the Lord our God to help us.’ But it was your king, Hezekiah, who removed the altars and the special places where you worship your God. He told the people of Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship God only at the altar here in Jerusalem.’ ”