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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.

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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