Isaiah 38 — T4T

Hezekiah’s sickness and his recovery

38Verse 1About that time, Hezekiah became very ill and was close to dying. So I went to see him. And I gave him this message: “This is what Yahweh says: ‘You should tell the people in your palace what you want them to do after you die, because you will not recover from this illness. You are going to die’ ”^{Verse 2}Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed this:^{Verse 3}“Yahweh, do not forget that I have always served you very faithfully, and I have done things that pleased you!” Then Hezekiah started to cry loudly.^{Verse 4}I left his room, but Yahweh gave me this message:^{Verse 5}“Go back to Hezekiah and tell him that this is what I, the God to whom your ancestor King David belonged, say: ‘I have heard what you prayed, and I have seen you crying. So listen: I will enable you to live 15 years more.^{Verse 6}And, I will rescue you and this city from the power [MTY] of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city.^{Verse 7}And this is what I will do to prove that I will do what I have just now promised. I will cause the shadow of the sun to move ten steps backward on the sundial that was built by King Ahaz.’”^{Verse 8}So the shadow of the sun on the sundial moved backward ten steps.^{Verse 9}When King Hezekiah was almost well again, he wrote this:^{Verse 10}I thought to myself, “Is it necessary for me to die and go to the place where the dead people areduring this time of my life when I am still strong?
Is Yahweh going to rob me of the remaining years that I should live?”^{Verse 11}I said, “I will not see Yahweh againin this world where people are alive.I will not see my friends again,or be with others who now are alive in this world.^{Verse 12}It is as if my life has been taken awaylike [SIM] a tent whose pegs have been pulled up by a shepherd and taken away.My time to live has been cut short,like a piece of cloth that a weaver cuts and rolls up after he has finished weaving a cloth.”
Suddenly, it seemed that my life was ending.^{Verse 13}I waited patiently all during the night,but my pain was as though [MET] I was being torn apart by lions.
It seemed that my life was finished.^{Verse 14}I was delirious, and I chirped like a swift or a swallow,and moaned like a dove.My eyes became tired looking up toward heaven for help.I cried out, Lord, help me, because I am distressed!’^{Verse 15}But there was really nothing [RHQ] that I could say and ask him to reply to me,because it was Yahweh who sent this illness.So now I will live humbly during my remaining yearsbecause I am very anguished.^{Verse 16}Yahweh, the sufferings (OR, the promises) that you give are good,because what you do and what you say bring new life and health to us.And you restore/heal meand allow me to continue to live!^{Verse 17}Truly, my suffering was good for me;you loved me,and as a result you have rescued me from dyingand have also forgiven all my sins.^{Verse 18}Dead people [MTY] cannot praise you;they cannot sing to praise you.Those who have descended to their gravescannot confidently expect you to faithfully do things for them.^{Verse 19}Only people who are still alive, like I am, can praise you.
Fathers tell their children how you are faithful,and if I remain alive, I will do the same thing.^{Verse 20}I know that Yahweh will fully heal me,so I will sing to praise himwhile others praise him playing musical instruments;I will do that every day of my life, in the temple of Yahweh.”^{Verse 21}I had previously said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Prepare an ointment from mashed figs, and spread it on his boil, and then he will recover.” So they did that, and Hezekiah recovered.^{Verse 22}And Hezekiah had previously asked, “What will Yahweh do to prove that I will recover and be able to go to his temple?”