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]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.”
Isaiah 37:1-4
New Living Translation
Hezekiah Seeks the Lord’s Help
37 When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord. 2 And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby. 4 But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff,[a] sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”
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