1In those days Hezekiah fell sick to the point of death. And Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh: Set your house in order, for you are dying and will not live.”
2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh.
3and said, “Please, Yahweh, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept with great weeping.
4Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying:
5“Go and say to Hezekiah: Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I am adding fifteen years to your days.
6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
7And this is the sign for you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that he has spoken:
8Behold, I am turning back the shadow of the steps, which has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz by the sun, backward ten steps.” And the sun turned back ten steps, on the steps it had gone down.
9A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he was sick and recovered from his sickness:
10I said, In the noontide of my days I must depart; at the gates of Sheol I am appointed for the rest of my years.
11I said, I will not see Yah—Yah—in the land of the living; I will look on humankind no more, among the inhabitants of the world.
12My dwelling is pulled up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have rolled up my life like a weaver; he cuts me off from the loom. From day until night you bring me to an end.
13I composed myself until morning; like a lion, so he breaks all my bones. From day until night you bring me to an end.
14Like a swift or a crane, so I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak looking to the heights. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my surety!
15What can I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I will walk humbly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
16O Lord, by these things people live, and in all of them is the life of my spirit. So restore me to health and let me live!
17Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but you loved my soul back from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
18For Sheol cannot thank you; Death cannot praise you; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19The living, the living—he thanks you, as I do this day; a father makes known to his children your faithfulness.
20Yahweh is ready to save me, and we will play my songs on stringed instruments all the days of our life at the house of Yahweh.
21Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and spread it on the boil, and he will recover.”
22And Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of Yahweh?”
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