Isaiah 38:9-22 - Hezekiah's Poem Of Praise

⁹ King Hezekiah of Judah wrote this after he was sick and became well again:

¹⁰ I thought that in the prime of my life I would go down to the gates of the grave and be robbed of the rest of my life. ¹¹ I thought that I would not see Jehovah in this world. Even with all the people in the world, I thought I would never see another person. ¹² My life was over. You rolled it up like a shepherd's tent. You rolled up my life like a weaver. You cut me off from the loom. You ended my life in one day. ¹³ Until morning came, I thought you would crush my bones just like a hungry lion; both night and day you make an end of me. ¹⁴ I cry like a swallow (swift). I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, Jehovah. I am terribly abused. Please come and help me.

¹⁵ There is nothing I can say in answer to you. For you are the one who has done this to me. My life has turned sour. I will limp until I die. ¹⁶ Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone, including me. Please make me healthy and strong again. ¹⁷ Yes, it was for my benefit that I suffered such distress. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction. You have put (thrown) (hurled) all my sins behind your back. ¹⁸ For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise. Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. ¹⁹ The living, yes the living praise you, as I am doing today! Fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. ²⁰ Jehovah will save me! We will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the Temple of Jehovah.

²¹ Isaiah said: Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover. ²² Hezekiah said: What will be the sign that I will go up to the Temple of Jehovah?