English / ERV
Isaiah 38
Easy-to-Read Version, 2006
- 1At 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.’”
- 2Hezekiah 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.
- 4Then Isaiah received this message from the LORD:
- 5“Go to Hezekiah and tell him that the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says, ‘I heard your prayer, and I saw your tears. I will add 15 years to your life.
- 6I will save you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will protect this city.’”
- 7Hezekiah asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that proves I will get well and go to the LORD’s Temple?” 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[1] to move back ten steps. The sun’s shadow will go back up the ten steps that it has already been on.”
- 9This is the letter from Hezekiah when he became well:
- 10I thought I would live a full life. But now, in the middle of my life, the time has come for me to die.
- 11So I said, “I will not see the LORD YAH[2] in the land of the living again. I will not see the people living on earth.
- 12My 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. You ended my life in such a short time.
- 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.