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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A writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he was sick and had recovered from his sickness:

10 I was the one who said, “I must go in the quiet of my days;
    I am summoned through the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years.”
11 I said, “I shall not see Yah! Yah in the land of the living!
    I shall no more look at humankind among the inhabitants of the world.
12 My dwelling place is pulled up and removed from me like the tent of my shepherd;
    I have rolled up my life like a weaver.
He cuts me off from the thrum;
    from day to night you bring me to an end.
13 I lie down[a] until morning;
    like a lion, so he breaks all my bones;
    from day to night you bring me to an end.
14 Like a horse or a crane, so I chirp;
    I moan like a dove.
My eyes are weak toward the height.
    Lord, I have oppression; lend me support!
15 What can I say? For[b] he has spoken to me,
    and he himself has done it.
I will walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
16 Lord, they live by them, and the life of my spirit belongs to all among them.
And restore me to health and keep me alive!
17 Look! Bitterness was bitter to me for peace.
And you were the one who loved[c] my life from the pit of destruction,
    for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
18 For Sheol cannot praise you; death cannot praise you.
    Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the living one praises you like me today;
    a father will make your faithfulness known to children.
20 Yahweh, save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives at the temple[d] of Yahweh.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 38:13 Or “cry out”
  2. Isaiah 38:15 Or “And”
  3. Isaiah 38:17 Or possibly “kept back,” which sounds similar in Hebrew
  4. Isaiah 38:20 Or “house”