The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 38

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Isaiah chapter 38 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him: 'Thus saith HaShem:…” — the complete text of all 22 verses is below, free to read online.

1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him: 'Thus saith HaShem: Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.'

2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto HaShem,

3and said: 'Remember now, O HaShem, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.' And Hezekiah wept sore.

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

5'Go, and say to Hezekiah: Thus saith HaShem, the G-d of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

6And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.

7And this shall be the sign unto thee from HaShem, that HaShem will do this thing that He hath spoken:

8behold, I will cause the shadow of the dial, which is gone down on the sun-dial of Ahaz, to return backward ten degrees.' So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.

10I said: In the noontide of my days I shall go, even to the gates of the nether-world; I am deprived of the residue of my years.

11I said: I shall not see HaShem, even HaShem in the land of the living; I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

12My habitation is plucked up and carried away from me as a shepherd's tent; I have rolled up like a weaver my life; He will cut me off from the thrum; from day even to night wilt Thou make an end of me.

13The more I make myself like unto a lion until morning, the more it breaketh all my bones; from day even to night wilt Thou make an end of me.

14Like a swallow or a crane, so do I chatter, I do moan as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward. O HaShem, I am oppressed, be Thou my surety.

15What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and Himself hath done it; I shall go softly all my years for the bitterness of my soul.

16O L-rd, by these things men live, and altogether therein is the life of my spirit; wherefore recover Thou me, and make me to live.

17Behold, for my peace I had great bitterness; but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.

18For the nether-world cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee; they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth.

19The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day; the father to the children shall make known Thy truth.

20HaShem is ready to save me; therefore we will sing songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of HaShem.

21And Isaiah said: 'Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.'

22And Hezekiah said. 'What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of HaShem?'

22 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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