But the people remained silent. They didn’t say anything. That’s because King Hezekiah had commanded,“ Don’t answer him.”

百姓静默不言，并不回答一句，因为王曾吩咐说：“不要回答他。”

百姓静默不言，一句不答，因为希西家王曾吩咐说：“不要回答他。”

百姓静默不言，一句不答，因为希西家王曾吩咐说：“不要回答他。”

民众默不作声，一言不发，因为希西迦曾吩咐他们不要答话。

众人都默不作声，一句话也没有回答他，因为王的吩咐说：“不要回答他。”

众人都默不作声，一句也不回应，因为希西加王有令说：“不许回应他。”

百姓靜默不言，並不回答一句，因為王曾吩咐說：「不要回答他。」

百姓靜默不言，一句不答，因為希西家王曾吩咐說：「不要回答他。」

百姓靜默不言，一句不答，因為希西家王曾吩咐說：「不要回答他。」

民眾默不作聲，一言不發，因為希西迦曾吩咐他們不要答話。

眾人都默不作聲，一句話也沒有回答他，因為王的吩咐說：“不要回答他。”

眾民都不作聲，一句話也沒有回答他，因為王是吩咐說：『不要回答他。』

眾人都默不作聲，一句也不回應，因為希西加王有令說：「不許回應他。」

眾默然、不答一詞、蓋王命勿答之、

民聞是言、不措一詞、蓋王有命、勿應之。

眾靜默不答一言、因王命曰、勿答之、

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded,“ Do not answer him.”

But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was,“ Do not answer him.”

But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them,“ Do not answer him.”

But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was,“ Don’t answer him.”

But they were silent and did not answer him so much as a word; for the king’s command was,“ Do not answer him.”

But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was,“ Do not answer him.”

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

But they kept silent; they didn’t say anything, for the king’s command was,“ Don’t answer him.”

But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

They were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered,“ Don’t respond to him.”

But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was,“ Don’t answer him.”

Don’t answer a foolish person in keeping with their foolish acts. If you do, you yourself will be just like them.

I said,“ I will be careful about how I live. I will not sin by what I say. I will keep my mouth closed when I am near sinful people.”

So those who are wise keep quiet in times like these. That’s because the times are evil.

“ Do not give holy things to dogs. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they might walk all over them. They might turn around and tear you to pieces.

Like a deaf person, I can’t hear. Like someone who can’t speak, I can’t say a word.I’m like someone who doesn’t hear. I’m like someone whose mouth can’t make any reply.Lord, I wait for you to help me. Lord my God, I know you will answer.

Then Shebna, Joah and Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, spoke to the field commander. They said,“ Please speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew. If you do, the people sitting on the city wall will be able to understand you.”

When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at. When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.Don’t warn those who make fun of others, or they will hate you. Warn those who are wise, and they will love you.

Then Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, went to Hezekiah. Eliakim was in charge of the palace. Shebna the secretary went with him. So did Joah, the son of Asaph. Joah kept the records. All of them went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn. They told him what the field commander had said.