Hezekiah’s Illness^(A)

20 At that time Hezekiah became so sick he ·almost died [was about to die]. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and told him, “·This is what the Lord says [^TThus says the Lord]: ·Make arrangements [^LSet your house in order] because you are going to die. You will not recover.”

² Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³ “Lord, please remember that I have always ·obeyed [^Lwalked before] you. I have ·given myself completely to you [served you wholeheartedly] and have done ·what you said was right [^Lright in the eyes/sight of the Lord].” Then Hezekiah ·cried loudly [wept bitterly].

⁴ Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the Lord spoke his word to Isaiah: ⁵ “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ·leader [ruler; prince] of my people: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ·ancestor [father] David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, so I will heal you. Three days from now you will go up to the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord. ⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life. I will ·save [rescue; ^Tdeliver] you and this city from [^Lthe hand of] the king of Assyria; I will ·protect [defend] the city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”

⁷ Then Isaiah said, “Make a ·paste [ointment; poultice] from figs.” So they made it and put it on Hezekiah’s boil, and he got well.

⁸ Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord on the third day?”

⁹ Isaiah said, “The Lord will do what he ·says [promises]. This is the sign from the Lord to show you: Do you want the shadow to go forward ten steps or back ten steps?”

¹⁰ Hezekiah answered, “It’s ·easy [normal] for the shadow to ·go forward [lengthen] ten steps. Instead, let it go back ten steps.”

¹¹ Then Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten steps back up the ·stairway [or dial; ^Cthe shadows moved either on outside stairs or on a sundial] of Ahaz that it had gone down.