Add parallel Print Page Options

A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and [a]recovery:

10 I said, “(A)In the middle of my [b]life
I am to enter the (B)gates of Sheol;
I am to be (C)deprived of the rest of my years.”
11 I said, “I will not see Yah,
Yah (D)in the land of the living;
I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.
12 Like a shepherd’s (E)tent my dwelling is pulled up and removed from me;
As a (F)weaver I (G)rolled up my life.
He (H)cuts me off from the loom;
From (I)day until night You make an end of me.
13 I soothed my soul until morning.
(J)Like a lion—so He (K)shatters all my bones;
From (L)day until night You make an end of me.
14 (M)Like a swallow, like a crane, so I chirped;
I (N)moan like a dove;
My (O)eyes look wistfully to the heights;
O Lord, I am oppressed, be my (P)security.

15 (Q)What shall I say?
[c]Indeed, He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it;
I will (R)wander about all my years because of the (S)bitterness of my soul.
16 O Lord, (T)by these things men live,
And in all these is the life of my spirit;
[d](U)O restore me to health and (V)let me live!

17 Behold, for my own well-being I had great bitterness;
But it is You who has [e](W)held back my soul from the pit of [f]nothingness,
For You have (X)cast all my sins behind Your back.
18 For (Y)Sheol cannot thank You;
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down (Z)to the pit cannot keep watch for Your truth.
19 It is the (AA)living, the living who give thanks to You, as I do today;
A (AB)father makes known to his sons about Your truth.
20 Yahweh is here to save me;
So we will (AC)play my songs on stringed instruments
(AD)All the days of our life (AE)at the house of Yahweh.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 38:9 Lit he lived after his illness
  2. Isaiah 38:10 Lit days
  3. Isaiah 38:15 DSS and Targum And what shall I say for He
  4. Isaiah 38:16 Lit You will
  5. Isaiah 38:17 As in some versions; Heb loved
  6. Isaiah 38:17 Or destruction

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.

20 The Lord will save me,
    and we will sing(AG) with stringed instruments(AH)
all the days of our lives(AI)
    in the temple(AJ) of the Lord.

Read full chapter