2 Kings 19:21–28

²¹“Here is the message the Lord has spoken against him. The Lord says,

“ ‘You will not win the battle over Zion.

Its people hate you and make fun of you.

The people of Jerusalem lift up their heads proudly

as you run away.

²²Who have you laughed at?

Who have you spoken evil things against?

Who have you raised your voice against?

Who have you looked at so proudly?

You have done it against me.

I am the Holy One of Israel!

²³Through your messengers

you have laughed at me again and again.

And you have said,

“I have many chariots.

With them I have climbed to the tops of the mountains.

I’ve climbed the highest mountains in Lebanon.

I’ve cut down its tallest cedar trees.

I’ve cut down the best of its pine trees.

I’ve reached its farthest parts.

I’ve reached its finest forests.

²⁴I’ve dug wells in strange lands.

I’ve drunk the water from them.

I’ve walked through all of Egypt’s streams.

I’ve dried up every one of them.”

²⁵“ ‘But I, the Lord, say, “Haven’t you heard what I have done?

Long ago I arranged for you to do all of that.

In days of old I planned it.

Now I have made it happen.

You have turned cities with high walls

into piles of stone.

²⁶Their people do not have any power left.

They are troubled and put to shame.

They are like plants in the field.

They are like new green plants.

They are like grass that grows on a roof.

It dries up before it is completely grown.

²⁷“ ‘ “But I know where you live.

I know when you come and go.

I know how very angry you are with me.

²⁸You roar against me and brag.

And I have heard your bragging.

So I will put my hook in your nose.

I will put my bit in your mouth.

And I will make you go home

by the same way you came.” ’ ”