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Douay-Rheims Bible

2 Kings 18:20

Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thyself for battle. On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Assyria;   Diplomacy;   Hypocrisy;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Jerusalem;   Rab-Shakeh (Rabshakeh);   Sennacherib;   War;   Scofield Reference Index - Times of the Gentiles;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assyria;   Kings;   Sieges;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Isaiah;   Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Assyria;   Hezekiah;   Nahum;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Rabshakeh;   Scribes;   Sennacherib;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Assyria, History and Religion of;   Cupbearer;   Hope;   Isaiah;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Rabshakeh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hezekiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Israel;   Philistines;   Rab-Shakeh;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Rabshakeh ;   Sennacherib ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Rabshakeh;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Text of the Old Testament;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Assyria;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Courage;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. Who are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?
Hebrew Names Version
You say (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
King James Version
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?
English Standard Version
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?
New Century Version
You say you have battle plans and power for war, but your words mean nothing. Whom are you trusting for help so that you turn against me?
New English Translation
Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting that you would dare to rebel against me?
Amplified Bible
"You say (but they are only empty words) 'I have counsel and strength for the war.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?
New American Standard Bible
"You say—but they are only empty words—'I have a plan and strength for the war.' Now on whom have you relied, that you have revolted against me?
World English Bible
You say (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thou thinkest, Surely I haue eloquence, but counsell and strength are for the warre. On whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Legacy Standard Bible
You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and might for the war.' Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
Berean Standard Bible
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. On whom are you now relying, that you have rebelled against me?
Contemporary English Version
Does he think he can plan and win a war with nothing but words? Who is going to help him, now that he has turned against the king of Assyria?
Complete Jewish Bible
Do you think that mere spoken words constitute strategy and strength for battle? In whom, then, are you trusting when you rebel against me like this?
Darby Translation
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?
Easy-to-Read Version
If you say, "I trust in power and great battle plans," then that is useless. Now I ask you, who do you trust so much that you are willing to rebel against me?
George Lamsa Translation
You have said that you are a good speaker and that you have counsel and strength for war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
Good News Translation
He demanded, "Do you think that words can take the place of military skill and might? Who do you think will help you rebel against Assyria?
Lexham English Bible
You think only a word of lips, ‘I have advice and power for the war.' Now, on whom do you trust that you have rebelled against me?
Literal Translation
Do you say that a mere word of the lips is counsel and strength for battle; now, on whom have you trusted that you have rebelled against me?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thinkest thou, yt thou hast yet councell and power to fighte? Where vnto trustest thou then, that thou art fallen of fro me?
American Standard Version
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?
Bible in Basic English
You say you have a design, and strength for war, but these are only words. Now to whom are you looking for support, that you have gone against my authority?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thou thinkest surely I haue eloquece, but counsell and strength are for the warre: On whom then doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Sayest thou that a mere word of the lips is counsel and strength for the war? Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?
King James Version (1611)
Thou sayest, (but they are but vaine words) I haue counsell and strength for the warre: now on whom doest thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thou hast said, (but they are mere words,)I have counsel and strength for war. Now then in whom dost thou trust, that thou hast revolted from me?
English Revised Version
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?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
In hap thou hast take counsel, that thou woldist make thee redi to batel. In whom tristist thou, that thou be hardi to rebelle?
Young's Literal Translation
Thou hast said: Only a word of the lips! counsel and might [are] for battle; now, on whom hast thou trusted that thou hast rebelled against me?
Update Bible Version
You say (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
Webster's Bible Translation
Thou sayest, but [they are but] vain words, I [have] counsel and strength for the war. Now in whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
New King James Version
You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?
New Living Translation
Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?
New Life Bible
You say with empty words, ‘I have wisdom and strength for war.' On whom do you trust, that you have turned against me?
New Revised Standard
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thou hast said - they are only words of the lips! - Counsel and might have I for the war. Now, in whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?
Revised Standard Version
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"You say (but they are only empty words), 'I have counsel and strength for the war.' Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?

Contextual Overview

17 And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan, and Rabsaris, and Rabsaces, from Lachis, to king Ezechias, with a strong army, to Jerusalem: and they went up and came to Jerusalem, and they stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the way of the fuller’s field. 18 And they called for the king: and there went out to them Eliacim, the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and Sobna, the scribe, and Joahe, the son of Asaph, the recorder. 19 And Rabsaces said to them: Speak to Ezechias: Thus saith the great king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence, wherein thou trustest? 20 Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thyself for battle. On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel? 21 Dost thou trust in Egypt a staff of a broken reed, upon which if a man lean, it will break and go into his hand, and pierce it? so is Pharao, king of Egypt, to all that trust in him. 22 But if you say to me: We trust in the Lord, our God: is it not he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away: and hath commanded Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 23 Now therefore come over to my master, the king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses, and see whether you be able to have riders for them. 24 And how can you stand against one lord of the least of my master’s servants? Dost thou trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 25 Is it without the will of the Lord that I am come up to this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land, and destroy it. 26 Then Eliacim, the son of Helcias, and Sobna, and Joahe, said to Rabsaces: We pray thee, speak to us, thy servants, in Syriac: for we understand that tongue: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people that are upon the wall.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sayest: or, talkest

vain words: Heb. word of the lips, I have counsel and strength for the war. or, but counsel and strength are for the war. Proverbs 21:30, Proverbs 21:31

rebellest: 2 Kings 18:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 5:9 - vain words 2 Kings 18:7 - rebelled 2 Chronicles 32:1 - king of Assyria 2 Chronicles 32:3 - took counsel Ezra 4:12 - rebellious Isaiah 33:8 - he regardeth Luke 14:31 - General Ephesians 5:6 - vain

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
And he said to him: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth to me from the earth.
Genesis 13:13
And the men of Sodom were very wicked, and sinners before the face of the Lord beyond measure.
Genesis 19:13
For we will destroy this place, because their cry is grown loud before the Lord, who hath sent us to destroy them.
Isaiah 3:9
The shew of their countenance hath answered them: and they have proclaimed abroad their sin as Sodom, and they have not hid it: woe to their souls, for evils are rendered to them.
Isaiah 5:7
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel: and the man of Juda, his pleasant plant: and I looked that he should do judgment, and behold iniquity: and do justice, and behold a cry.
Jeremiah 14:7
If our iniquities have testified against us, O Lord, do thou it for thy name’s sake, for our rebellions are many, we have sinned against thee.
James 5:4
Behold the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Hezekiah no doubt believed that in the “counsel” of Eliakim and Isaiah, and in the “strength” promised him by Egypt, he had resources which justified him in provoking a war.

Vain words - literally, as in margin, i. e., a mere word, to which the facts do not correspond.


 
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