1. At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan was king of Baby- lon. He sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, because he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and was now well.
2. Hezekiah was pleased and showed the messengers what was in his storehouses: the silver, gold, spices, expensive perfumes, his swords and shields, and all his wealth. He showed them everything in his palace and in his kingdom.
3. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men say? Where did they come from?" Hezekiah said, "They came from a faraway country -- from Babylon."
4. So Isaiah asked him, "What did they see in your palace?" Hezekiah said, "They saw everything in my palace. I showed them all my wealth."
5. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah: "Listen to the words of the Lord All-Powerful:
6. 'In the future everything in your palace and everything your ancestors have stored up until this day will be taken away to Babylon. Nothing will be left,' says the Lord.
7. Some of your own children, those who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become servants in the palace of the king of Babylon."
8. Hezekiah told Isaiah, "These words from the Lord are good." He said this because he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime."