Isaiah 38 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery

(2Ki 20:1–11; 2Ch 32:24–26 )

Isa 38:1About 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.’”

Isa 38:2

Isa 38:2When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,

Isa 38:3

Isa 38:3“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.

Isa 38:4

Isa 38:4Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD:

Isa 38:5

Isa 38:5“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,

Isa 38:6

Isa 38:6and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.

Isa 38:7

Isa 38:7“‘And this is the sign from the LORD to prove that he will do as he promised:

Isa 38:8

Isa 38:8I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial[fn] of Ahaz!’” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

Hezekiah’s Poem of Praise

Isa 38:9

Isa 38:9When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:

Isa 38:10

Isa 38:10I said, “In the prime of my life,
must I now enter the place of the dead?[fn]
Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”

Isa 38:11

Isa 38:11I 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.

Isa 38:12

Isa 38:12My 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.

Isa 38:13

Isa 38:13I waited patiently all night,
but I was torn apart as though by lions.
Suddenly, my life was over.

Isa 38:14

Isa 38:14Delirious, 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!”

Isa 38:15

Isa 38:15But 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.

Isa 38:16

Isa 38:16Lord, your discipline is good,
for it leads to life and health.
You restore my health
and allow me to live!

Isa 38:17

Isa 38:17Yes, this anguish was good for me,
for you have rescued me from death
and forgiven all my sins.

Isa 38:18

Isa 38:18For the dead[fn] cannot praise you;
they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave
can no longer hope in your faithfulness.

Isa 38:19

Isa 38:19Only the living can praise you as I do today.
Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.

Isa 38:20

Isa 38:20Think 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.

Isa 38:21

Isa 38:21Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

Isa 38:22

Isa 38:22And Hezekiah had asked, “What sign will prove that I will go to the Temple of the LORD?”

See the NLT Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NLT Footnotes

(38:8)

Hebrew the steps.

(38:10)

Hebrew enter the gates of Sheol?

(38:18)

Hebrew Sheol.

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For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

Isaiah Chapter 38 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New International Version English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

Isaiah 38 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

NLT Footnotes

Isaiah Chapter 38 — Additional Translations:

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