IsaiahChapter 38
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1In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him. He said, "This is what the LORD says: 'Put your house in order, because you are about to die. You will not get well.'" 2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD. 3He said, "Please, LORD, remember how I have lived faithfully before you. I have served you with all my heart. I have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah cried hard. 4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah. He said, 5"Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Listen, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city. 7Here is a sign to you from the LORD. It will show that he will do what he promised. 8The sun's shadow has gone down the stairway of Ahaz. I will make it go back ten steps.'" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down. 9This is what Hezekiah king of Judah wrote after he was sick and got well: 10I said, "In the best years of my life
I must go through the gates of the grave.
The rest of my years are taken from me."a 11I said, "I will never again see the LORD,
the LORD, in the land of the living.
I will not look on people anymore,
or be with those who live in this world. 12My home has been pulled up and taken from me,
like a shepherd's tent.
I have rolled up my life like a weaver rolls up cloth.
He cuts me off from the loom.
From day to night you bring me to an end. 13I waited calmly until morning.
But like a lion he breaks all my bones.
From day to night you bring me to an end. 14I chirp like a swallow or a crane.
I moan like a dove.
My eyes grow tired as I look up to heaven.
Lord, I am in trouble.
Be the one who keeps me safe." 15What can I say?
He has spoken to me,
and he himself has done this.
I will walk slowly all my years
because of the deep pain in my soul. 16Lord, people live by these things.
My spirit finds life in all of them too.
You made me healthy again.
You let me live. 17Yes, it was for my own good
that I had such great pain.
But your love has saved me
from the pit where all is forgotten.
For you have thrown all my sins behind your back. 18For the grave cannot thank you.
Death cannot praise you.
Those who go down to the Pit
cannot hope in your faithfulness.b 19The living, only the living, can thank you,
as I do today.
Fathers will tell their children
about your faithfulness. 20The LORD will save me.
We will play songs on harps
all the days of our lives
in the house of the LORD. 21Isaiah had said, "Make a paste of pressed figs. Put it on the boil, and he will get well." 22And Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?"