| 章 |
| 38:1 |
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
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| 38:2 |
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
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| 38:3 |
"Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
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| 38:4 |
Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:
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| 38:5 |
"Go and tell Hezekiah, `This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.
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| 38:6 |
And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
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| 38:7 |
"`This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:
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| 38:8 |
I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.' " So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
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| 38:9 |
A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:
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| 38:10 |
I said, "In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?"
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| 38:11 |
I said, "I will not again see the LORD, the LORD, in the land of the living; no longer will I look on mankind, or be with those who now dwell in this world.
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| 38:12 |
Like a shepherd's tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom; day and night you made an end of me.
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| 38:13 |
I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me.
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| 38:14 |
I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"
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| 38:15 |
But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.
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| 38:16 |
Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.
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| 38:17 |
Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.
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| 38:18 |
For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
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| 38:19 |
The living, the living--they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.
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| 38:20 |
The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.
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| 38:21 |
Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."
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| 38:22 |
Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the LORD?"
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