ISAIAH 38-40

¹ In those days Hez·e·kiʹah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah the son of Aʹmoz came and said to him, “This is what Jehovah says: ‘Give instructions to your household, for you will die; you will not recover.’”

² At that Hez·e·kiʹah turned his face to the wall and began to pray to Jehovah:

³ “I beg you, O Jehovah, remember, please, how I have walked before you faithfully and with a complete heart, and I have done what was good in your eyes.” And Hez·e·kiʹah began to weep profusely.

⁴ Then the word of Jehovah came to Isaiah, saying:

⁵ “Go back and say to Hez·e·kiʹah, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of David your forefather says: “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Here I am adding 15 years to your life,

⁶ and I will rescue you and this city out of the hand of the king of As·syrʹi·a, and I will defend this city.

⁷ This is the sign from Jehovah to show you that Jehovah will carry out the word that he has spoken:

⁸ Here I will make the declining shadow of the sun on the stairway of Aʹhaz go back ten steps.”’” So the sun went back ten steps on the stairway that it had already descended.

⁹ A writing of King Hez·e·kiʹah of Judah when he became sick and recovered from his sickness.

¹⁰ I will be deprived of my remaining years.”

¹¹ When I am with the inhabitants of the place where everything ceases.

¹² From daylight to nightfall you keep bringing me to an end.

¹³ From daylight to nightfall you keep bringing me to an end.

¹⁴ Be my support!’

¹⁵ Because of my bitter distress.

¹⁶ You will restore me to health and preserve me alive.

¹⁷ You have thrown all my sins behind your back.

¹⁸ Those who go down into the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.

¹⁹ A father can give his sons knowledge about your faithfulness.

²⁰ All the days of our life at the house of Jehovah.’”

²¹ Isaiah then said: “Bring a cake of pressed dried figs and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.”

²² Hez·e·kiʹah had asked: “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Jehovah?”

¹ At that time the king of Babylon, Merʹo·dach-balʹa·dan son of Balʹa·dan, sent letters and a gift to Hez·e·kiʹah, for he had heard that he had been sick and had recovered.

² Hez·e·kiʹah gladly welcomed them and showed them his treasure-house —the silver, the gold, the balsam oil and other precious oil, his whole armory, and everything that was to be found in his treasuries. There was nothing that Hez·e·kiʹah did not show them in his own house and in all his dominion.

³ After that Isaiah the prophet came in to King Hez·e·kiʹah and asked him: “What did these men say, and where did they come from?” So Hez·e·kiʹah said: “They came from a distant land, from Babylon.”

⁴ Next he asked: “What did they see in your house?” Hez·e·kiʹah replied: “They saw everything in my house. There was nothing that I did not show them in my treasuries.”

⁵ Isaiah now said to Hez·e·kiʹah: “Hear the word of Jehovah of armies,

⁶ ‘Look! Days are coming, and all that is in your house and all that your forefathers have stored up to this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Jehovah.

⁷ ‘And some of your own sons to whom you will become father will be taken and will become court officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

⁸ At that Hez·e·kiʹah said to Isaiah: “The word of Jehovah that you have spoken is good.” Then he added: “Because there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”

¹ “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.

² From the hand of Jehovah she has received a full amount for all her sins.”

³ Make a straight highway through the desert for our God.

⁴ And the rugged ground a valley plain.

⁵ For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.”

⁶ All their loyal love is like the blossom of the field.

⁷ Surely the people are but green grass.

⁸ But the word of our God endures forever.”

⁹ Announce to the cities of Judah: “Here is your God.”

¹⁰ And the wage he pays is before him.

¹¹ He will gently lead those nursing their young.

¹² And the hills in the scales?

¹³ And who can instruct him as his adviser?

¹⁴ Or shows him the way of true understanding?

¹⁵ Look! He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

¹⁶ And its wild animals are not sufficient for a burnt offering.

¹⁷ He regards them as nothing, as an unreality.

¹⁸ What likeness can you put next to him?

¹⁹ And he forges silver chains.

²⁰ To prepare a carved image that will not topple over.

²¹ Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

²² And he spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

²³ And makes the judges of the earth an unreality.

²⁴ And the wind carries them away like stubble.

²⁵ “To whom can you liken me to make me his equal?” says the Holy One.

²⁶ Not one of them is missing.

²⁷ And I receive no justice from God’?

²⁸ His understanding is unsearchable.

²⁹ And full might to those lacking strength.

³⁰ And young men will stumble and fall,

³¹ They will walk and not tire out.”