Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/421

 Many kings  were  there,  diversely  disposed,

reigning after  this  one  in  the  kingdom  of  Israel,

and also  in  the  land  of  Judah,  until  the  believing  king,

called Hezekiah,  turned  with  his  whole  heart

to the  Almighty  God,  and  raised  up  his  worship,

and overthrew  the  idols  which  until  then  had  been

erroneously venerated  with  wicked  worship.

He reigned  in  the  land  of  Judah  thirty  years  save  one,

and lived  wisely,  because  he  loved  God;

and God  shielded  him  against  the  Assyrian  king,

called Sennacherib,  who  with  slander  fought  against  him,

and desired  to  destroy  him  with  an  immense  army,

and sent  his  leader  to  him,  who  spoke  shamefully  concerning  God,

and concerning  Hezekiah,  with  great  threatening*

So then   Hezekiah  cried  with  single  mind

to the  Almighty  God,  that  He  would  deliver  him.

Then God  sent  His  angel  to   the  Assyrian  host,

and  slew  in  one   night  one  hundred   and   eighty

thousand men,   and  some  more  besides.

As soon  as  Sennacherib  saw  in  the  mornino;

that his  host  was   slain  by  the  heavenly  sword,

he  straightway  went  home,  and   his   two  sons

slew him  with  the  edge  of  the  sword.

Thus the  Almighty   God  delivered  the  noble  king

and also   his  people,   for  his  faith.

After this  Hezekiah   fell  sick  unto  death,

and God's  prophet   Isaiah   came   walking  to  him,

and announced  to  him  God's  errand  thus   boldly,  and  said,

'God saith  concerning  thee,  O    king,  that  thou    must    bequeath thy  property,

because thou  slialt  die,  and  thou  verily  shalt  not  live.'

Then Hezekiah  turned  his  face  to  the  wall,

and cried  to  God  thus  saying,  with  weeping,

'I beseech  Thee,  my  Lord,  that  thou  be  mindful