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38 <1> At that time Hezekiah became sick and almost died. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to see him and told him, "The Lord told me to tell you this: 'You will die soon. So you should tell your family what they should do when you die. You will not get well.'"
<2> Hezekiah turned toward the wall that faced the Temple and began praying to the Lord. <3> "Lord, remember that I have faithfully served you with all my heart. I have done what you say is good." Then Hezekiah cried very hard.
<4> Then Isaiah received this message from the Lord: <5> "Go to Hezekiah and tell him that the Lord, the God of your ancestor[370] David says: 'I heard your prayer, and I saw your tears. I will add 15 years to your life. <6> I will save you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will protect this city.'"
<21>[371] Then Isaiah told Hezekiah, "Crush figs together and put them on your sore, then you will get well."
<22>[372] Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "What is the sign that proves I will get well and go to the Lord's Temple[373]?"
<7> This is the sign from the Lord to show you that he will do what he says: <8> "Look, I am causing the shadow that is on the steps of Ahaz[374] to move back ten steps. The sun's shadow will go back up the ten steps that it has already been on."
<9> This is the letter from Hezekiah when he became well:
<10> I thought I would live a full life.
But now, in the middle of my life,
the time has come for me to die.
<11> So I said, "I will not see the Lord Yah[375]
in the land of the living again.
I will not see the people living on earth.
<12> My home, my shepherd's tent,
is being pulled down and taken from me.
I am finished like the cloth someone rolls up and cuts from the loom.[376]
You finished my life in such a short time.
<13> All night I cried as loud as a lion,
but my hopes were crushed like a lion eating bones.
You finished my life in such a short time.
<14> I cried like a bird
and moaned like a dove.
My eyes became tired,
but I continued looking to the heavens.
My Master, I am so depressed.
Promise to help me."
<15> What can I say?
My Master told me what would happen,
and he will make it happen.
I have had these troubles in my soul,
so now I will be humble all my life.
<16> My Master, use this hard time to make my spirit live again.
Help my spirit become strong and healthy.
Help me become well!
Help me live again!
<17> Look, my troubles are gone!
I now have peace.
You love me very much.
You did not let me rot in the grave.
You took my sins
and threw them away.
<18> The dead cannot praise you.
People in Sheol[377] cannot sing praises to you.
Those who have died and gone below are not trusting in your faithfulness.
<19> People who are alive, people like me,
are the ones who will praise you-
fathers telling their children about how faithful you are.
<20> So I say, "The Lord saved me.
So we will sing and play songs in the Lord's Temple all our lives."
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.