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Isaiah 38:9-20
Contemporary English Version
Isaiah 38:9-20
Contemporary English Version
King Hezekiah's Song of Praise
9 This is what Hezekiah wrote after he got well:
10 I thought I would die
during my best years
and stay as a prisoner forever
in the world of the dead.
11 I thought I would never again
see you, my Lord,
or any of the people
who live on this earth.
12 My life was taken from me
like the tent that a shepherd
pulls up and moves.
You cut me off like thread
from a weaver's loom;
you make a wreck of me
day and night.
13 Until morning came, I thought
you would crush my bones
just like a hungry lion;
both night and day
you make a wreck of me.[a]
14 I cry like a swallow;
I mourn like a dove.
My eyes are red
from looking to you, Lord.
I am in terrible trouble.
Please come and help me.[b]
15 There's nothing I can say
in answer to you,
since you are the one
who has done this to me.[c]
My life has turned sour;
I will limp until I die.
16 Your words and your deeds
bring life to everyone,
including me.[d]
Please make me healthy
and strong again.
17 It was for my own good
that I had such hard times.
But your love protected me
from doom in the deep pit,[e]
and you turned your eyes
away from my sins.
18 (A) No one in the world of the dead
can thank you or praise you;
none of those in the deep pit
can hope for you
to show them
how faithful you are.
19 Only the living can thank you,
as I am doing today.
Each generation tells the next
about your faithfulness.[f]
20 You, Lord, will save me,
and every day that we live
we will sing in your temple
to the music
of stringed instruments.
Footnotes
- 38.13 of me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 13.
- 38.14 help me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 14.
- 38.15 There's … me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 38.16 Your … me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 38.17 deep pit: The world of the dead, as in verse 18.
- 38.19 about your faithfulness: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Isaiah 38:9-20
New International Version
Isaiah 38:9-20
New International Version
9 A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
10 I said, “In the prime of my life(A)
must I go through the gates of death(B)
and be robbed of the rest of my years?(C)”
11 I said, “I will not again see the Lord himself(D)
in the land of the living;(E)
no longer will I look on my fellow man,
or be with those who now dwell in this world.
12 Like a shepherd’s tent(F) my house
has been pulled down(G) and taken from me.
Like a weaver I have rolled(H) up my life,
and he has cut me off from the loom;(I)
day and night(J) you made an end of me.
13 I waited patiently(K) till dawn,
but like a lion he broke(L) all my bones;(M)
day and night(N) you made an end of me.
14 I cried like a swift or thrush,
I moaned like a mourning dove.(O)
My eyes grew weak(P) as I looked to the heavens.
I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!”(Q)
15 But what can I say?(R)
He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.(S)
I will walk humbly(T) all my years
because of this anguish of my soul.(U)
16 Lord, by such things people live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
and let me live.(V)
17 Surely it was for my benefit(W)
that I suffered such anguish.(X)
In your love you kept me
from the pit(Y) of destruction;
you have put all my sins(Z)
behind your back.(AA)
18 For the grave(AB) cannot praise you,
death cannot sing your praise;(AC)
those who go down to the pit(AD)
cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the living—they praise(AE) you,
as I am doing today;
parents tell their children(AF)
about your faithfulness.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.