Isaiah 38

1 In those days Hezekiah was sick to death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Jehovah, Set thy house in order, for thou shall die, and not live.

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’”

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Jehovah,

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,

3 and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept greatly.

and said, “Remember now, LORD, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of Jehovah came to Isaiah, saying,

Then the LORD’s word came to Isaiah, saying,

5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus says Jehovah, the God of David thy father. I have heard thy prayer. I have seen thy tears. Behold, I will add to thy days fifteen years.

“Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘The LORD, the God of David your father, 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 thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.

I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.

7 And this shall be the sign to thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he has spoken:

This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has spoken.

8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which has gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial on which it had gone down.

Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps.”’” So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down.

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness:

10 I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years. (Sheol h7585)

I said, "In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol (Sheol h7585). I am deprived of the residue of my years."

11 I said, I shall not see Jehovah, even Jehovah in the land of the living. I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

I said, “I will not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd's tent. I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night thou will make an end of me.

My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me.

13 I quieted myself until morning. As a lion, so he breaks all my bones. From day even to night will thou make an end of me.

I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.

14 Like a swallow or a crane, so I chattered. I moaned as a dove. My eyes fail with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.

I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”

15 What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.

16 O Lord, by these things men live, and wholly therein is the life of my spirit. Therefore recover thou me, and make me to live.

Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them. You restore me, and cause me to live.

17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness. But thou have by love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption. For thou have cast all my sins behind thy back.

Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

18 For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee. Those who go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. (Sheol h7585)

For Sheol (Sheol h7585) cannot praise you. Death cannot celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth.

19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day. The father to the sons shall make known thy truth.

The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do today. The father shall make known your truth to the children.

20 Jehovah is ready to save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Jehovah.

The LORD will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the LORD’s house.

21 Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.

Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”

22 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of Jehovah?

Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the LORD’s house?”