Isaiah 38

1In those days Hezekiah fell deathly ill. Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet came to him and said to him, "Yahweh commands: order your house, for you are dying and will not live."

2Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to Yahweh.

3He said, "Please, Yahweh, remember—I beg you—how I have walked before you in truth and with a whole heart, doing what is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4Then Yahweh's word came to Isaiah, saying,

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

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

7This is the sign for you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this word that he has spoken.

8Behold, I will turn back the shadow ten steps backward on the steps of Ahaz by the sun—the shadow that went down there. And the sun returned ten steps on the steps by which it had gone down.

9The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he was sick and recovered from his sickness.

10I said, "When my days are cut off, I shall go to the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the remainder of my years."

11I said, "I will not see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will behold man no longer with the world's inhabitants."

12My lifetime has been removed and carried away from me like a shepherd's tent; I have rolled up my life like a weaver—he cuts me off from the loom; from day until night you will make an end of me.

13I quieted myself until morning—like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day until night you will finish me.

14Like a crane or swallow, I twittered; like a dove, I groaned. My eyes languish looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; stand surety for me.

15What shall I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I will go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

16Lord, people live by them, and the life of my spirit is in all of them; you restore me and give me life.

17See, for peace it was bitter to me; but you have loved my soul from the pit of corruption, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

18For Sheol does not thank you, death does not praise you; those descending to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.

19The living, the living—he praises you, as I do today; a father makes your truth known to the children.

20Yahweh will save me, and we will sing with my stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh.

21Isaiah said, "Let them take a cake of figs and rub it on the boil, and he will live."

22Hezekiah said, “What sign confirms that I will ascend to Yahweh’s house?”