Chapter 38
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death . Isaiah the prophet , the son of Amoz, came to him , and said to him , " The LORD says , ‘ Set your house in order , for you will die , and not live .’"
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD ,
3 and said, " Remember now , LORD , I beg you , how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart , and have done that which is good in your sight ." Then Hezekiah wept bitterly .
4 Then the LORD ’s word came to Isaiah , saying ,
5 " Go , and tell Hezekiah , ‘ The LORD , the God of David your father, says , " I have heard your prayer . I have seen your tears . Behold , I will add fifteen years to your life .
6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I 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 spoken .
8 Behold , I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun , to return backward ten steps ."’" So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down .
9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah , when he had been sick , and had recovered of his sickness :
10 I said, " In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol . I am deprived of the residue of my years ."
11 I said, " I won’t see the LORD , the LORD in the land of the living . I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world .
12 My dwelling is removed , and is carried away from me like a shepherd ’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver. He will cut me off from the loom . From day even to night you will make an end of me .
13 I waited patiently until morning . He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me .
14 I chattered like a swallow or a crane . I moaned like a dove . My eyes weaken looking upward . Lord, I am oppressed . Be my security ."
15 What will I say ? He has both spoken to me , and himself has done it . I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul .
16 Lord, men live by these things ; and my spirit finds life in all of them . You restore me , and cause me to live .
17 Behold , for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption ; for you have cast all my sins behind your back .
18 For Sheol can ’t praise you . Death can ’t celebrate you . Those who go down into the pit can ’t hope for your truth .
19 The living , the living , he shall praise you , as I do today . The father shall make known your truth to the children .
20 The LORD will save me . Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the LORD ’s house .
21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs , and lay it for a poultice on the boil , and he shall recover ."
22 Hezekiah also had said, " What is the sign that I will go up to the LORD ’s house ?"