Isaiah 38

1 In those days [a period of time, a season] Hezekiah [a king of Judah, son of Ahaz] became mortally ill [sick unto death, near death]. The prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] Isaiah [Jehovah has saved, a prophet of God] son of Amoz [father of Isaiah, a man of God] came to him and said, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] says: ‘Put your house [your family, your kingdom] in order [set your affairs in order, prepare for the end], for you are about to die [your death is near]; you will not recover [you will not live, your life will come to an end].’” word study 2 Then Hezekiah [the faithful king of Judah] turned his face [toward the presence of God] to the wall [a place of solitude] and prayed [to intercede, to seek God’s guidance] to the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God, the covenant keeper], word study 3 saying, “Please [I beseech thee], O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], remember [to recall, to mark] how I have walked [lived, conducted myself] before You faithfully [in truth, with a perfect heart] and with wholehearted [complete, perfect] devotion; I have done [made, performed] what was good [pleasant, beneficial] in Your sight [eye, presence].” And Hezekiah [the king of Judah] wept [cried, shed tears] bitterly [with great weeping, sorely]. word study 4 And the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [existed, came into being] to Isaiah [Jeshaiah, Jehovah has saved], saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 5 “Go [to approach, draw near] and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the God of covenant promise], the God [Elohim, the supreme ruler] of your father David, says: ‘I have heard [listened to, given attention to] your prayer [supplication, heartfelt request]; I have seen [looked upon with care, provided for] your tears [weeping, sorrow]. Behold [look, take notice], I will add [increase, prolong] fifteen [a period of five and ten] years to your life [days, mortal existence]. word study 6 And I will deliver [rescue, snatch away] you and this [specific, particular] city from the hand [palm, power] of the king [royal ruler, monarch] of Assyria [Asshur, the ancestor of the Assyrians]. I will defend [protect, guard] this city. word study 7 This [specific, miraculous sign] will be a sign [token, wonder, or beacon] to you from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] that He will do [fulfill, accomplish, or bring to pass] what He has promised [spoken, declared, or vowed]: word study 8 I will make the sun’s shadow [dark area, providing shade] that falls on the stairway [steps, journey upward] of Ahaz [king of Judah] go back [to return, turn back] ten [a decade, a period of time] steps [journey upward, ascent].’” So the sunlight went back [to return, turn back] the ten steps it had descended [gone down, to a lower place]. word study 9 This is a writing [a letter or poetic composition] by Hezekiah [a king who served Jehovah] king [a royal ruler] of Judah [the tribe and region descended from Judah] after his illness [a time of sickness or disease] and recovery [a restoration to health, when he was revived and lived again]: word study 10 I [the speaker] said, “In the prime [noontide, quiet] of my life [days, years] I must go [walk, be deprived of life] through the gates [entrances] of Sheol [the underworld, hell] and be deprived [robbed] of the remainder [residue, excess] of my years [time, lifespan].” word study 11 I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD [Jah, the shortened form of God’s name], in the land [earth, territory] of the living [having physical or spiritual life]; I will no longer look [gaze, regard carefully] on mankind [human beings, people] with those who dwell [reside, live] in this world [the earth, a region]. word study 12 My dwelling [temporary home, like a nomad’s tent] has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s [one who guides and cares for] tent. I have rolled up [gathered, wrapped] my life [existence, being alive] like a weaver [one who creates fabric]; He cuts me off [severs, stops] from the loom [the frame for weaving]; from day [a period of time, a 24-hour cycle] until night [the time of darkness, adversity] You make an end [bring to completion, finish] of me. word study 13 I composed [quieted, reckoned] myself until the morning [break of day, new beginnings]. Like a lion He breaks [shatters, ruptures] all my bones [body, essence]; from day [a 24-hour period, a space of time] until night [time of darkness, adversity] You make [bring, complete] an end [peace, completion] of me. word study 14 I chirp [like a bird in distress] like a swallow [a bird of sorrow] or crane; I moan [mourn, lament] like a dove [a dove or pigeon]. My eyes [the windows of the soul] grow weak [languish, become dim] as I look upward [to the heights, in desperation]. O Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God], I am oppressed [crushed, afflicted]; be my security [pledge, guarantee my well-being].” word study 15 What [how can I respond] can I say? He [the Lord] has spoken [communicated, given a message] to me, and He Himself [personally, as the ultimate authority] has done [accomplished, brought about] this. I will walk [proceed, conduct myself] slowly [softly, gently, with caution] all my years [the entirety of my life] because of the anguish [bitterness, deep sorrow] of my soul [my inner being, my very essence]. word study 16 O Lord [Adonay, the revered Master], by such things [promises and sufferings] men live, and in all [every aspect] of them my spirit [the breath of life] finds life [vitality and being]. You have restored [recovered, made whole] me to health [wholeness, well-being] and have let me live [given me new life, revived]. word study 17 Surely for my own [spiritual and emotional] welfare I had such great [intense, bitter] anguish; but Your [unconditional, divine] love has delivered me from the pit [of destruction, corruption, and death] of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins [rebellions, offenses] behind Your back [in forgetfulness, out of sight]. word study 18 For Sheol [the underworld, hell] cannot thank You [give praise, express gratitude]; Death [the state of being dead, separation from God] cannot praise You [celebrate, honor]. Those who descend [go down, fall] to the Pit [a cistern, a place of no return] cannot hope [wait with expectation, trust] for Your faithfulness [truth, reliability]. word study 19 The living [alive, having physical or spiritual life], only the living [breathing, existing], can thank [praise, give gratitude to] You, as I do today [in this present moment, now]; fathers [parental figures, ancestors] will tell [declare, make known] their children [sons, descendants] about Your faithfulness [truth, reliability, trustworthiness]. word study 20 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will save [deliver, rescue] me; we will play [sing, make music] songs on stringed instruments [with musical accompaniment] all [every, the entire] the days of our lives [the duration of our existence, while we are alive] in the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 21 Now Isaiah [the prophet, Jeshaiah, Jehovah has saved] had said, “Prepare [take, lift up] a lump [cake, mass] of pressed figs [fig cake] and apply [rub, lay] it to the boil [inflamed spot, skin sore], and he will recover [live, be healed, revived].” word study 22 And Hezekiah [the faithful king of Judah] had asked, “What [inquiring about a miraculous sign] will be the sign [a divine wonder, a beacon] that I will go up [to ascend, to rise] to the house [the temple, the dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]?” word study