he and his officials decided to cut off the supply of water outside the city in order to keep the Assyrians from having any water when they got near Jerusalem. The officials led a large number of people out and stopped up all the springs, so that no more water flowed out of them.

(SEE 32:3)

Hezekiah tells you that the LORD your God will save you from our power, but Hezekiah is deceiving you and will let you die of hunger and thirst.

You found the places where the walls of Jerusalem needed repair. You inspected all the houses in Jerusalem and tore some of them down to get stones to repair the city walls. In order to store water,

you built a reservoir inside the city to hold the water flowing down from the old pool. But you paid no attention to God, who planned all this long ago and who caused it to happen.

You boasted that you dug wells and drank water in foreign lands, and that the feet of your soldiers tramped the Nile River dry.

Nineveh, you are under attack! The power that will shatter you has come. Prepare the defenses! Guard the road! Prepare for battle!

Gather together in fear, you nations! Listen, you distant parts of the earth. Get ready to fight, but be afraid! Yes, get ready, but be afraid!

"The Egyptian officers shout, 'Get your shields ready and march into battle!

Harness your horses and mount them! Fall in line and put on your helmets! Sharpen your spears! Put on your armor!'

Command the horses to go and the chariots to roll! Send out the soldiers: men from Ethiopia and Libya, carrying shields, and skilled archers from Lydia.' "

"Make this announcement among the nations: 'Prepare for war; call your warriors; gather all your soldiers and march!

Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather in the valley.' " Send down, O LORD, your army to attack them!