VerseAI

NIV

Isaiah 38

  1. 1<pb/>In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
  2. 2<pb/>Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
  3. 3“Remember, 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.
  4. 4<pb/>Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:
  5. 5“Go 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.
  6. 6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
  7. 7<pb/>“ ‘This is the LORD’s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:
  8. 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.
  9. 9<pb/>A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
  10. 10<pb/><t>I said, “In the prime of my life</t> <t>must I go through the gates of death</t> <t>and be robbed of the rest of my years?”</t>
  11. 11<t>I said, “I will not again see the LORD himself</t> <t>in the land of the living;</t> <t>no longer will I look on my fellow man,</t> <t>or be with those who now dwell in this world.</t>
  12. 12<t>Like a shepherd’s tent my house</t> <t>has been pulled down and taken from me.</t> <t>Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,</t> <t>and he has cut me off from the loom;</t> <t>day and night you made an end of me.</t>
  13. 13<t>I waited patiently till dawn,</t> <t>but like a lion he broke all my bones;</t> <t>day and night you made an end of me.</t>
  14. 14<t>I cried like a swift or thrush,</t> <t>I moaned like a mourning dove.</t> <t>My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.</t> <t>I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!” <pb/></t>
  15. 15<t>But what can I say?</t> <t>He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.</t> <t>I will walk humbly all my years</t> <t>because of this anguish of my soul.</t>
  16. 16<t>Lord, by such things people live;</t> <t>and my spirit finds life in them too.</t> <t>You restored me to health</t> <t>and let me live.</t>
  17. 17<t>Surely it was for my benefit</t> <t>that I suffered such anguish.</t> <t>In your love you kept me</t> <t>from the pit of destruction;</t> <t>you have put all my sins</t> <t>behind your back.</t>
  18. 18<t>For the grave cannot praise you,</t> <t>death cannot sing your praise;</t> <t>those who go down to the pit</t> <t>cannot hope for your faithfulness.</t>
  19. 19<t>The living, the living—they praise you,</t> <t>as I am doing today;</t> <t>parents tell their children</t> <t>about your faithfulness. <pb/></t>
  20. 20<t>The LORD will save me,</t> <t>and we will sing with stringed instruments</t> <t>all the days of our lives</t> <t>in the temple of the LORD.</t>
  21. 21<pb/>Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”
  22. 22<pb/>Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the LORD?”