NET Bible

The Lord Hears Hezekiah’s Prayer

^38:1 In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Give instructions to your household, for you are about to die; you will not get well.’” ^38:2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ^38:3 “Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.

^38:4 The Lord’s message came to Isaiah, ^38:5 “Go and tell Hezekiah: ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will add 15 years to your life. ^38:6 I will also rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city.”’” ^38:7 Isaiah replied, “This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said: ^38:8 Look, I will make the shadow go back 10 steps on the stairs of Ahaz.” And then the shadow went back 10 steps.

Hezekiah’s Song of Thanks

^38:9 This is the prayer of King Hezekiah of Judah when he was sick and then recovered from his illness:

^38:10 “I thought, ‘In the middle of my life I must walk through the gates of Sheol, I am deprived of the rest of my years.’ ^38:11 “I thought, ‘I will no longer see the Lord in the land of the living, I will no longer look on humankind with the inhabitants of the world. ^38:12 My dwelling place is removed and taken away from me as a shepherd’s tent. I rolled up my life like a weaver rolls cloth; from the loom he cuts me off. You turn day into night and end my life. ^38:13 I cry out until morning; like a lion he shatters all my bones; you turn day into night and end my life. ^38:14 Like a swallow or a thrush I chirp, I coo like a dove; my eyes grow tired from looking up to the sky. O Lord, I am oppressed; help me! ^38:15 What can I say? He has decreed and acted. I will walk slowly all my years because I am overcome with grief. ^38:16 O Lord, your decrees can give men life; may years of life be restored to me. Restore my health and preserve my life.’ ^38:17 “Look, the grief I experienced was for my benefit. You delivered me from the Pit of oblivion. For you removed all my sins from your sight. ^38:18 Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit do not anticipate your faithfulness. ^38:19 The living person, the living person, he gives you thanks, as I do today. A father tells his sons about your faithfulness. ^38:20 The Lord is about to deliver me, and we will celebrate with music for the rest of our lives in the Lord’s temple.”

^38:21 (Isaiah ordered, “Let them take a fig cake and apply it to the ulcerated sore and he will get well.” ^38:22 Hezekiah said, “What is the confirming sign that I will go up to the Lord’s temple?”)