Isaiah 38 – NIRV & CCB

New International Reader’s Version

Isaiah 38:1-22

Hezekiah Becomes Sick and Is Healed

1In those days Hezekiah became very sick. He knew he was about to die. Isaiah went to see him. Isaiah was the son of Amoz. Isaiah told Hezekiah, “The Lord says, ‘Put everything in order. Make out your will. You are going to die soon. You will not get well again.’ ”

2Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall. He prayed to the Lord. He said, 3Lord, please remember how faithful I’ve been to you. I’ve lived the way you wanted me to. I’ve served you with all my heart. I’ve done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4A message from the Lord came to Isaiah. The Lord said, 5“Go and speak to Hezekiah. Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of King David, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. I will add 15 years to your life. 6And I will save you and this city from the power of the king of Assyria. I will guard this city.

7“ ‘ “Here is a sign from me. It will show you that I will heal you, just as I promised I would. 8The shadow that was made by the sun has gone down ten steps on the stairway of Ahaz. I will make it go back up those ten steps.” ’ ” So the shadow went back up the ten steps it had gone down.

9Here is a song of praise that was written by Hezekiah, the king of Judah. He wrote it after he was sick and had gotten well again.

10I said, “I’m enjoying the best years of my life.

Must I now go through the gates of death?

Will the rest of my years be taken away from me?”

11I said, “Lord, I’ll never see you again

while I’m still alive.

I’ll never see people anymore.

I’ll never again be with those who live in this world.

12My body is like a shepherd’s tent.

It has been pulled down and carried off.

My life is like a piece of cloth that I’ve rolled up.

You have cut it off from the loom.

In a short period of time you have brought my life to an end.

13I waited patiently until sunrise.

But like a lion you broke all my bones.

In a short period of time you have brought my life to an end.

14I cried softly like a weak little bird.

I sounded like a dove as I mourned.

My eyes grew tired as I looked up toward heaven.

Lord, my life is in danger. Please come and help me!

15“But what can I say?

You have promised to heal me.

And you yourself have done it.

Once I was proud and bitter.

But now I will live the rest of my life free of pride.

16Lord, people find the will to live because you keep your promises.

And my spirit also finds life in your promises.

You brought me back to health.

You let me live.

17I’m sure it was for my benefit

that I suffered such great pain.

You love me. You kept me

from going down into the pit of death.

You have put all my sins

behind your back.

18People in the grave can’t praise you.

Dead people can’t sing praise to you.

Those who go down to the grave

can’t hope for you to be faithful to them.

19It is those who are alive who praise you.

And that’s what I’m doing today.

Parents tell their children

about how faithful you are.

20“The Lord will save me.

So we will sing and play music on stringed instruments.

We will sing all the days of our lives

in the Lord’s temple.”

21When Hezekiah was sick, Isaiah had said, “Press some figs together. Spread them on a piece of cloth. Apply them to Hezekiah’s boil. Then he’ll get well again.”

22At that time Hezekiah had asked, “What will the sign be to prove I’ll go up to the Lord’s temple?” That’s when the Lord had made the shadow go back ten steps.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

以赛亚书 38:1-22

希西迦患病

1那些日子,希西迦病危,亚摩斯的儿子以赛亚先知前来对他说:“耶和华说,‘你要交待后事,因为你要死了,你的病不能康复。’” 2希西迦把脸转向墙,向耶和华祷告,说: 3“耶和华啊,求你顾念我怎样全心、忠诚地事奉你,做你视为善的事。”希西迦痛哭起来。 4耶和华对以赛亚说: 5“你去告诉希西迦,‘你祖先大卫的上帝耶和华说,我听见了你的祷告,也看见了你的眼泪,我要使你的寿命增加十五年。 6我要从亚述王手中拯救你和这城,我要保护这城。’” 2138:21-22 这两节在原文抄本是放在本章末尾,不过这可能是在誊抄过程中放错位置。其实这两节经文放在6节和7节之间最为自然,就如在列王纪下一样,参见列王纪下20:7-8以赛亚说:“拿一块无花果饼贴在王的疮上,他就会痊愈。” 22希西迦问:“有什么兆头能证明我可以再上耶和华的殿吗?”