1 I n those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was near death. Isaiah the man of God, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, “The Lord says, ‘Make those of your house ready, for you will die and not live.’”

2 T hen Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord,

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

3 a nd said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

and said, “O Lord, I ask you from my heart to remember now how I have walked with You in truth and with a whole heart. I have done what is good in Your eyes.” And Hezekiah cried with a bitter cry.

4 A nd the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,

Then the Word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,

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

“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘The Lord, the God of your father David, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. See, I will add fifteen years to your life.

6 I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.”’

And I will take you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. I will fight for this city.”’”

7 A nd this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has spoken:

“This is the special thing for you to see from the Lord, that the Lord will do what He has said:

8 “ Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.

See the shadow on the steps, which has gone down with the sun on the steps of Ahaz. I will make it go back ten steps.” So the sun’s shadow went back the ten steps it had gone down.

9 T his is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:

This is the writing of King Hezekiah of Judah, after he had been sick and became well again:

10 I said, “In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.”

I said, “Half-way through my life I am to go through the gates of the place of the dead. The rest of my years have been kept from me.”

11 I said, “I shall not see Yah, The Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

I said, “I will not see the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living. I will not look upon man any more among the people of the world.

12 M y life span is gone, Taken from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me.

My house is pulled up like a shepherd’s tent and taken from me. I have rolled up my life like a cloth-maker. He cuts me off from the cloth He is making. From day to night You make an end of me.

13 I have considered until morning— Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me.

I waited for help until morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones. From day to night You make an end of me.

14 L ike a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me!

I make noise like the birds. I cry like a dove. My eyes are tired from looking up. O Lord, I am having a hard time. Keep me safe.

15 “ What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul.

“But what can I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it. I will walk with care all my years because my soul is bitter.

16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live.

O Lord, by these things men live. And in all these is the life of my spirit. O heal me, and let me live!

17 I ndeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

See, it was for my own well-being that I was bitter. But You have kept my soul from the grave that destroys. You have put all my sins behind Your back.

18 F or Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.

The place of the dead cannot thank You. Death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the grave cannot hope that You will be faithful.

19 T he living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.

It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today. A father tells his sons about how faithful You are.

20 “ The Lord was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.”

The Lord will save me. And we will sing my songs with harps all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.”

21 N ow Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”

Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and put it on the sore, that he may get well.”

22 A nd Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord ?”

Then Hezekiah had said, “What is the special thing to see, that I will go up to the house of the Lord?”