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

10 I said, “In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol.[a]
    I am deprived of the residue of my years.”
11 I said, “I won’t see Yah,
    Yah 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 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 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 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 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 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 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[b] can’t praise you.
    Death can’t celebrate you.
Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth.
19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do today.
    The father shall make known your truth to the children.
20 Yahweh will save me.
    Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in Yahweh’s house.

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Footnotes

  1. 38:10 Sheol is the place of the dead.
  2. 38:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise

When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:

10 I said, “In the prime of my life,
    must I now enter the place of the dead?[a]
    Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”
11 I said, “Never again will I see the Lord God
    while still in the land of the living.
Never again will I see my friends
    or be with those who live in this world.
12 My life has been blown away
    like a shepherd’s tent in a storm.
It has been cut short,
    as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom.
    Suddenly, my life was over.
13 I waited patiently all night,
    but I was torn apart as though by lions.
    Suddenly, my life was over.
14 Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane,
    and then I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help.
    I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”

15 But what could I say?
    For he himself sent this sickness.
Now I will walk humbly throughout my years
    because of this anguish I have felt.
16 Lord, your discipline is good,
    for it leads to life and health.
You restore my health
    and allow me to live!
17 Yes, this anguish was good for me,
    for you have rescued me from death
    and forgiven all my sins.
18 For the dead[b] cannot praise you;
    they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave
    can no longer hope in your faithfulness.
19 Only the living can praise you as I do today.
    Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.
20 Think of it—the Lord is ready to heal me!
    I will sing his praises with instruments
every day of my life
    in the Temple of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 38:10 Hebrew enter the gates of Sheol?
  2. 38:18 Hebrew Sheol.

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.

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