20 You say—but they are only [a]empty words—‘I have a plan and strength for the war.’ Now on whom have you relied, (A)that you have revolted against me? 21 Now behold, you have [b](B)relied on the [c]support of this broken reed, on Egypt; on which if a man leans, it will go into his [d]hand and pierce it. That is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who rely on him. 22 However, if you say to me, ‘We have trusted in the Lord our God,’ is it not He whose high places and (C)whose altars Hezekiah has removed, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 18:20 Lit a word of lips
  2. 2 Kings 18:21 Lit relied for yourself
  3. 2 Kings 18:21 Or staff
  4. 2 Kings 18:21 Lit palm

20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt,(A) that splintered reed of a staff,(B) which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”?

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