Isaiah 38

1 In those days Hezekiah was sick unto death. And came to him Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet, and he said to him, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Set in order your house, for you are going to die, and you will not live!’”

2 And Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to YHWH,

3 and he said, “I pray you, O YHWH, remember please how I have walked before Your face in truth and with a complete heart, and I have done [what is] good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept [with] great weeping.

4 And the word of YHWH came to Isaiah, saying,

5 “Go and say to Hezekiah: Thus says YHWH the God of David your father, ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears; Behold I will add to your days fifteen years.

6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will cover over this city.

7 And this [is] to you the sign from YHWH that YHWH will do this thing that He has spoken:

8 Behold, I am bringing back the shadow on the stairs, which has gone down on the stairs of Ahaz, with the sun backward ten steps.’” And the sun was turned back ten steps on the steps that it had gone down.

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, in his being sick and restored to life from his sickness:

10 I said, “In the prime of my life I will go inside the gates of Sheol; I am consigned there [for] the remainder of my years.”

11 I said, “I will not see YAH—YAH in the land of the living. I will look on mankind no more among those dwelling in the world.

12 My dwelling has been pulled up and removed from me like the tent of a shepherd; I have gathered up my life like a weaver; from the loom He cuts me off; from day until night You make an end of me.

13 I composed myself until morning; like a lion, thus He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.

14 Like a swallow or crane, so I chirp; I moan like a dove; my eyes are worn out from up high. O Lord, oppression [is] unto me; be my security!”

15 What can I say? For He has said [it] to me and He Himself has done [it]. I move about all my days upon the bitterness of my soul.

16 O Lord, upon these they live; and in all of them is the life of my spirit; and You have restored me and have let me live.

17 Behold, for my wellbeing great bitterness [was] unto me; and You have held back my soul from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast behind Your back all my sins.

18 For Sheol cannot thank You [nor] death praise You; those going down to the Pit cannot have hope for Your faithfulness.

19 The living, the living—he shall thank You as I do this day. A father to sons makes known about Your faithfulness.

20 YHWH will save me, and strings we will pluck all the days of our lives in the house of YHWH.

21 And Isaiah said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply [it] upon the boil, that he may live.”

22 And Hezekiah said, “What [is] the sign that I will go up to the house of YHWH?”