New Living Translation

New International Version

Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery

About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’”

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Hezekiah’s Illness

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.”

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When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,

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Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,

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“Remember, 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.

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“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.

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Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD:

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Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah:

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“Go 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,

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“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.

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and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.

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And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

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“‘And this is the sign from the LORD to prove that he will do as he promised:

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“ ‘This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised:

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I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundiala of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

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I 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.

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Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise

When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:

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A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

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I said, “In the prime of my life,
must I now enter the place of the dead?b
Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”

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I said, “In the prime of my life
must I go through the gates of death
and be robbed of the rest of my years?”

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I 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.

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I 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.

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My 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.

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Like 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.

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I waited patiently all night,
but I was torn apart as though by lions.
Suddenly, my life was over.

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I waited patiently till dawn,
but like a lion he broke all my bones;
day and night you made an end of me.

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Delirious, 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!”

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I 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!”

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But 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.

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But 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.

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Lord, your discipline is good,
for it leads to life and health.
You restore my health
and allow me to live!

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Lord, by such things people live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
and let me live.

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Yes, this anguish was good for me,
for you have rescued me from death
and forgiven all my sins.

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Surely 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.

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For the deadc cannot praise you;
they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave
can no longer hope in your faithfulness.

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For the grave cannot praise you,
death cannot sing your praise;
those who go down to the pit
cannot hope for your faithfulness.

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Only the living can praise you as I do today.
Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.

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The living, the living — they praise you,
as I am doing today;
parents tell their children
about your faithfulness.

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Think 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.

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The Lord will save me,
and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the temple of the Lord.

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Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

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Isaiah had said, “Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.”

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And Hezekiah had asked, “What sign will prove that I will go to the Temple of the LORD?”

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Hezekiah had asked, “What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the Lord?”

Parallel

New Living Translation

New International Version

Isaiah 38

Isaiah 38