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Hezekiah’s Illness(A)

38 At that time Hezekiah became so sick he ·almost died [was about to die]. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and told him, “·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: ·Make arrangements [L Set your house in order], because you are going to die. You will not recover.”

Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed to the Lord, Lord, please remember that I have always ·obeyed [L walked before] you. I have ·given myself completely to you [served you wholeheartedly] and have done ·what you said was right [L right in the eyes/sight of the Lord].” Then Hezekiah ·cried loudly [wept bitterly].

Then the Lord spoke his word to Isaiah: “Go to Hezekiah and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ·ancestor [father] David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. So I will add fifteen years to your life. I will ·save [rescue] you and this city from [L the hand of] the king of Assyria; I will defend this city.

“‘The Lord will do what he ·says [promises]. This is the sign from the Lord to show you: The sun has made a shadow go down the stairway of Ahaz, but I will make it go back ten steps.’” So the shadow made by the sun went back up the ten steps it had gone down.

After Hezekiah king of Judah got well, he wrote this ·song [or poem; L writing]:

10 I said, “I am in the ·middle [prime] of my life.
    Do I have to go through the gates of ·death [or the grave; L Sheol]?
    Will I have the rest of my life ·taken away [deprived; robbed] from me?”
11 I said, “I will not see ·the Lord [the Lord, the Lord; L Yah, Yah; 26:4]
    in the land of the living again.
I will not again see ·the people [a human being]
    who live on the earth.
12 Like a shepherd’s tent,
    my home has been pulled down and taken from me.
I am like the cloth a weaver rolls up and cuts from the loom.
    ·In one day [L From day to night] you brought me to this end.
13 ·All night I cried loudly [or I waited patiently till morning].
    Like a lion, he ·crushed [breaks] all my bones.
    ·In one day [L From day to night] you brought me to this end.
14 I ·cried [twitter; chatter] like a ·bird [L swallow or a crane]
    and moaned like a dove.
My eyes ·became tired as I looked [grew weary from looking] to the ·heavens [heights].
    Lord, I ·have troubles [am oppressed]. ·Please help me [Be my security].”

15 What can I say?
    ·The Lord told me what would happen and then made it happen [L He spoke to me and he did it].
I will ·be humble [wander about; shuffle along; walk slowly] all my ·life [years]
    because of ·these troubles in [the bitterness of] my soul.
16 Lord, because of ·you [L these things], people live.
    Because of ·you [L them], my spirit also lives;
you ·made me well [restored me] and let me live.
17 It was for my own ·good [welfare; peace; C Hebrew shalom]
    that I had such ·troubles [anguish; bitterness].
Because you love me very much,
    you ·did not let me die [delivered my soul from the pit of destruction/corruption]
but threw my sins
    ·far away [L behind your back].
18 ·People in the place of the dead [or For the grave; L For Sheol] cannot ·praise [thank] you;
    ·those who have died [L death] cannot ·sing praises [praise] to you;
those who ·die [L go down to the pit] ·don’t trust you
    to help them [L cannot hope for your faithfulness].
19 ·The people who are alive [L The living, the living] are the ones who ·praise [thank] you.
    They praise you as I praise you today.
A father should tell his children
    ·that you provide help [L about your faithfulness].
20 The Lord ·saved me [or will save; or is ready to save],
    so we will play songs on stringed instruments
in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord
    all the days of our lives.

21 Then Isaiah said, “·Make a paste from [or Take a cake of] figs and put it on Hezekiah’s boil. Then he will get well.” 22 Hezekiah ·then [or had] asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign? What will show that I will go up to the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord?”

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