Isaiah 38:2-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 38
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3and said, 'Please, Lord, just remember how I have walked before You wholeheartedly and in truth, and have done what is good in Your sight.' And Hezekiah wept profusely.
4Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,
5Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David says: 'I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6And I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city.'?’
7And this shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will perform this word that He has spoken:
8Behold, I will make the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, go back ten steps.' So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.
10I said, 'In the middle of my life I am to enter the gates of Sheol; I have been deprived of the rest of my years.'
11I said, 'I will not see the Lord, The Lord in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind among the inhabitants of the world.
12Like a shepherd’s tent my dwelling is pulled up and removed from me; As a weaver I rolled up my life. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me.
13I composed my soul until morning. Like a lion—so He breaks all my bones, From day until night You make an end of me.
14Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.
15'What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will walk quietly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
16Lord, by these things people live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; Restore me to health and let me live!
17Behold, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; But You have kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have hurled all my sins behind Your back.
18For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
19It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today; A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.
20The 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.'
King James Version
Chapter 38
2Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 4Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, 5Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. 6And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. 7And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; 8Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
10I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
11I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
12Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
13I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
14Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
15What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
16O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
17Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
18For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
19The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
20The 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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 38
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. 3He said, "Please, Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly, and have done what pleases you." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah:
5"Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I am going to add fifteen years to your life.
6And I will rescue you and this city from the grasp of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city.
7This is the sign to you from the Lord that he will do what he has promised:
8I am going to make the sun's shadow that goes down on the stairway of Ahaz go back by ten steps.' " So the sun's shadow went back the ten steps it had descended.
10I said: In the prime of my life I must go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the rest of my years.
11I said: I will never see the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living; I will not look on humanity any longer with the inhabitants of what is passing away.
12My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd's tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; he cuts me off from the loom. By nightfall you make an end of me.
13I thought until the morning: He will break all my bones like a lion. By nightfall you make an end of me.
14I chirp like a swallow or a crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; support me.
15What can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk along slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
16Lord, by such things people live, and in every one of them my spirit finds life; you have restored me to health and let me live.
17Indeed, it was for my own well-being that I had such intense bitterness; but your love has delivered me from the Pit of destruction, for you have thrown all my sins behind your back.
18For Sheol cannot thank you; Death cannot praise you. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19The living, only the living can thank you, as I do today; a father will make your faithfulness known to children.
20The Lord is ready to save me; we will play stringed instruments all the days of our lives at the house of the Lord.
New Living Translation
Chapter 38
2When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.' Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord:
5Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life,
6and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.
7‘And this is the sign from the Lord to prove that he will do as he promised:
8I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!’' So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.
10I said, 'In the prime of my life, must I now enter the place of the dead? Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?'
11I said, 'Never again will I see the Lord GOD while still in the land of the living. Never again will I see my friends or be with those who live in this world.
12My life has been blown away like a shepherd’s tent in a storm. It has been cut short, as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom. Suddenly, my life was over.
13I waited patiently all night, but I was torn apart as though by lions. Suddenly, my life was over.
14Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane, and then I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!'
15But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt.
16Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live!
17Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.
18For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness.
19Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.
20Think 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.
English Standard Version
Chapter 38
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3and said, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:
5“Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.
7“This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has promised:
8Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.
10I said, In the middle of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years.
11I said, I shall not see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.
12My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end;
13I calmed myself until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end.
14Like a swallow or a crane I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety!
15What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
16O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live!
17Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
18For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.
19The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.
20The 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.
New International Version
Chapter 38
2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:
5Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.
6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
7'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:
8I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.'' So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
10I said, 'In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?'
11I said, 'I will not again see the LORD himself in the land of the living; no longer will I look on my fellow man, or be with those who now dwell in this world.
12Like a shepherd's tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom; day and night you made an end of me.
13I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me.
14I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!'
15But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.
16Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.
17Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.
18For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
New King James Version
Chapter 38
2Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,
5“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.
6I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’
7And this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has spoken:
8“Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.
10I said, “In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.”
11I said, “I shall not see YAH, The Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.
12 My life span is gone, Taken from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me.
13I have considered until morning— Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me.
14Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me!
15“What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul.
16O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live.
17Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
18For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.
19The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.
20“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.”
