Isaiah 38:1-19 ▼

1 In those days Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah (YHWH has saved) son of Amoz (strong) came to him and said, “This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

2 Then Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD {YHWH},

3 saying, “Please, O LORD {YHWH}, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) wept bitterly.

4 And the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Isaiah (YHWH has saved), saying,

5 “Go and tell Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) that this is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of your father David (beloved), says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.

6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria (a step). I will defend this city <2Ki 20:6>.

7 This will be a sign to you from the LORD {YHWH} that He will do what He has promised:

8 I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz (he has grasped) go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.

9 This is a writing by Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) king of Judah (praised) after his illness and recovery:

10 I said, “In the prime (In the quiet) of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”

11 I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world.

12 My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.

13 I composed myself (I cried out) until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.

14 I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord {Adonai}, I am oppressed; be my security.”

15 What can I say? He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this. I will walk slowly all my years because of the anguish of my soul.

16 O Lord {Adonai}, by such things men live, and in all of them my spirit {ruahi} finds life. You have restored me to health and have let me live.

17 Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

18 For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

19 The living, only the living, can thank You, as I do today; fathers will tell their children about Your faithfulness.