² He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary,^(A) and the leading priests, who were covered with sackcloth,^(B) to the prophet Isaiah^(C) son of Amoz. ³ They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth,^(D) but there is no strength to deliver them. ⁴ Perhaps the Lord your God^(E) will hear^(F) all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke^(G) him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’”^(H)