Isaiah 38:20
ESV
The Lord will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the Lord.
NIV
The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.
NASB
The Lord is certain to save me; So we will play my songs on stringed instruments All the days of our life at the house of the Lord.'
CSB
The Lord is ready to save me; we will play stringed instruments all the days of our lives at the house of the Lord.
NLT
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.
KJV
The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.
NKJV
“The Lord was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.”
What does Isaiah 38:20 mean?
Hezekiah ends his psalm (Isaiah 38:9) with confidence that the Lord will save him. The king was informed that an illness would be fatal (Isaiah 38:1). When he prayed for God's consideration (Isaiah 38:2–3), the Lord responded with fifteen more years of life (Isaiah 38:4). As part of this, the Lord offered a miraculous sign (Isaiah 38:7–8). Unlike his father, Ahaz (Isaiah 7:10–12), Hezekiah looked forward to seeing this supernatural affirmation (Isaiah 38:22). Armed with that reassurance, Hezekiah can announce his upcoming healing.One of the tragedies of dying young (Isaiah 38:10) would have been lost opportunities to worship God and fellowship with His people (Isaiah 38:11). Now that Hezekiah knows he will live, he intends to fill his time with praise for God. This would mainly happen in the temple: "the house of the Lord." Scripture often links worship to music, even as life continues into eternity (Revelation 5:9).
