Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
(2 Kings 20:1–11; 2 Chronicles 32:24–31)

1In those days Hezekiah was sick unto death. And came to him Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet, and he said to him, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Set in order your house, for you are going to die, and you will not live!’”

2And Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to YHWH, 3and he said, “I pray you, O YHWH, remember please how I have walked before Your face in truth and with a complete heart, and I have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept with great weeping.

4And the word of YHWH came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and say to Hezekiah: Thus says YHWH the God of David your father, ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears; Behold I will add to your days fifteen years. 6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will cover over this city.† 7And this is to you the sign from YHWH that YHWH will do this thing that He has spoken: 8Behold, I am bringing back the shadow on the stairs, which has gone down on the stairs of Ahaz, with the sun backward ten steps.’”

And the sun was turned back ten steps on the steps that it had gone down.

Hezekiah’s Song of Thanksgiving

9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, in his being sick and restored to life from his sickness:

10I said, “In the prime† of my life

I will go inside the gates of Sheol;

I am consigned there for the remainder of my years.”

11I said, “I will not see YAH—

YAH in the land of the living.

I will look on mankind no more

among those dwelling in the world.

12My dwelling has been pulled up and removed from me

like the tent of a shepherd;

I have gathered up my life like a weaver;

from the loom He cuts me off;

from day until night You make an end of me.

13I composed myself† until morning;

like a lion, thus He breaks all my bones;

from day until night You make an end of me.

14Like a swallow or crane, so I chirp;

I moan like a dove;

my eyes are worn out from up high.

O Lord, oppression is unto me; be my security!”

15What can I say?

For He has said it to me and He Himself has done it.

I move about all my days

upon the bitterness of my soul.

16O Lord, upon these they live;

and in all of them is the life of my spirit;

and You have restored me

and have let me live.

17Behold, for my wellbeing

great bitterness was unto me;

and You have held back my soul from the pit of oblivion,

for You have cast behind Your back all my sins.

18For Sheol cannot thank You

nor death praise You;

those going down to the Pit cannot have hope

for Your faithfulness.

19The living, the living—he shall thank You

as I do this day.

A father to sons makes known

about Your faithfulness.

20YHWH will save me,

and strings we will pluck

all the days of our lives

in the house of YHWH.

21And Isaiah said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it upon the boil, that he may live.”

22And Hezekiah said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of YHWH?”