Isaiah 37:1-4
Christian Standard Bible
Hezekiah Seeks Isaiah’s Counsel
37 When King Hezekiah heard their report,(A) he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth,(B) and went to the Lord’s temple. 2 He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, who were covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace.(C) It is as if children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.(D) 4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of the royal spokesman, whom his master the king of Assyria sent to mock the living God,(E) and will rebuke him for the words that the Lord your God has heard. Therefore offer a prayer for the surviving remnant.’”(F)
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Isaiah 37:1-4
New English Translation
37 When King Hezekiah heard this,[a] he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the Lord’s temple. 2 Eliakim the palace supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests,[b] clothed in sackcloth, sent this message to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz: 3 “This is what Hezekiah says:[c] ‘This is a day of distress, insults,[d] and humiliation,[e] as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through.[f] 4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God.[g] When the Lord your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said.[h] So pray for this remnant that remains.’”[i]
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- Isaiah 37:1 tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
- Isaiah 37:2 tn Heb “elders of the priests” (so KJV, NAB, NASB); NCV “the older priests”; NRSV, TEV, CEV “the senior priests.”
- Isaiah 37:3 tn In the Hebrew text this verse begins with “they said to him” (cf. NRSV).
- Isaiah 37:3 tn Or “rebuke” (KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “correction.”
- Isaiah 37:3 tn Or “contempt”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “disgrace.”
- Isaiah 37:3 tn Heb “when sons come to the cervical opening and there is no strength to give birth.”
- Isaiah 37:4 tn Heb “all the words of the chief adviser whom his master, the king of Assyria, sent to taunt the living God.”
- Isaiah 37:4 tn Heb “and rebuke the words which the Lord your God hears.”
- Isaiah 37:4 tn Heb “and lift up a prayer on behalf of the remnant that is found.”
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