38

Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd"s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

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

I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

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

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;

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

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,

And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,

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

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.