2 Kings 18:20
18 Then they called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.
19 The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?
21 Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem: ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?
- KJV
- Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
- WEB
- You say (but they are but vain words), ‘There is counsel and strength for war.’ Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
- ASV
- Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?
- DARBY
- Thou sayest but it is a word of the lips There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?
- BLB
- You say: But a word of the lips, counsel and strength for war. And on whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?
- ÅB
- Du sier - men det er bare tomme ord - : Her er innsikt og styrke nok til krig. Til hvem setter du da din lit, siden du har gjort opprør mot meg?
- OTB
- Du hevder—men de er bare tomme ord—"Jeg har en plan og styrke for krigen." Nå, hvem har du stolt på, siden du har gjort opprør mot meg?
- B1930
- Du sier - men det er bare tomme ord - : Her er innsikt og styrke nok til krig. Til hvem setter du da din lit, siden du har gjort oprør mot mig?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 21:30–31
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Read in context