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."

38:2  Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,

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.

38:4  Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:

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.

38:6  And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.

38:7  " 'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:

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.

38:9  A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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.

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.

38:19  The living, the living—they praise you,
as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children
about your faithfulness.

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.

38:21  Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."

38:22  Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the LORD ?"