Hezekiah’s sickness and his recovery

1About that time, Hezekiah became very ill and was close to dying. So I went to see him. And I gave him this message: “This is what Yahweh says: ‘You should tell the people in your palace what you want them to do after you die, because you will not recover from this illness. You are going to die’ ”

2Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed this:

3“Yahweh, do not forget that I have always served you very faithfully, and I have done things that pleased you!” Then Hezekiah started to cry loudly.

4I left his room, but Yahweh gave me this message:

5“Go back to Hezekiah and tell him that this is what I, the God to whom your ancestor King David belonged, say: ‘I have heard what you prayed, and I have seen you crying. So listen: I will enable you to live 15 years more.

6And, I will rescue you and this city from the power [MTY] of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city.

7And this is what I will do to prove that I will do what I have just now promised. I will cause the shadow of the sun to move ten steps backward on the sundial that was built by King Ahaz.’”

8So the shadow of the sun on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

9When King Hezekiah was almost well again, he wrote this:

10I thought to myself, “Is it necessary for me to die and go to the place where the dead people are during this time of my life when I am still strong?
Is Yahweh going to rob me of the remaining years that I should live?”

11I said, “I will not see Yahweh again in this world where people are alive. I will not see my friends again, or be with others who now are alive in this world.

12It is as if my life has been taken away like [SIM] a tent whose pegs have been pulled up by a shepherd and taken away. My time to live has been cut short, like a piece of cloth that a weaver cuts and rolls up after he has finished weaving a cloth.”
Suddenly, it seemed that my life was ending.

13I waited patiently all during the night, but my pain was as though [MET] I was being torn apart by lions.
It seemed that my life was finished.

14I was delirious, and I chirped like a swift or a swallow, and moaned like a dove. My eyes became tired looking up toward heaven for help. I cried out, Lord, help me, because I am distressed!’

15But there was really nothing [RHQ] that I could say and ask him to reply to me, because it was Yahweh who sent this illness. So now I will live humbly during my remaining years because I am very anguished.

16Yahweh, the sufferings (OR, the promises) that you give are good, because what you do and what you say bring new life and health to us. And you restore/heal me and allow me to continue to live!

17Truly, my suffering was good for me; you loved me, and as a result you have rescued me from dying and have also forgiven all my sins.

18Dead people [MTY] cannot praise you; they cannot sing to praise you. Those who have descended to their graves cannot confidently expect you to faithfully do things for them.

19Only people who are still alive, like I am, can praise you.
Fathers tell their children how you are faithful, and if I remain alive, I will do the same thing.

20I know that Yahweh will fully heal me, so I will sing to praise him while others praise him playing musical instruments; I will do that every day of my life, in the temple of Yahweh.”

21I had previously said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Prepare an ointment from mashed figs, and spread it on his boil, and then he will recover.” So they did that, and Hezekiah recovered.

22And Hezekiah had previously asked, “What will Yahweh do to prove that I will recover and be able to go to his temple?”