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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

Isaiah 38:15

What shall I say? For He speaks to me, and He has acted. I shall go softly all my years over the bitterness of my soul.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Hezekiah;   Humility;   Murmuring;   Psalms;   Repentance;   The Topic Concordance - Life;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Sickness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hope;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Poetry;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hell;   Poetry;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Isaiah;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Life;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Death;   Isaiah, Book of;   Psalms;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Hymn;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ararat;   Hezekiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Go;   Hezekiah (2);   Isaiah;   Manasseh (3);   Papyrus;   Psalms, Book of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hezekiah;   Poetry;   Sheol;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
What can I say?He has spoken to me,and he himself has done it.I walk along slowly all my yearsbecause of the bitterness of my soul.
Hebrew Names Version
What shall I say? he has both spoken to me, and himself has done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
King James Version
What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
English Standard Version
What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
New American Standard Bible
"What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will walk quietly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
New Century Version
What can I say? The Lord told me what would happen and then made it happen. I have had these troubles in my soul, so now I will be humble all my life.
Amplified Bible
"What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander aimlessly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
World English Bible
What shall I say? he has both spoken to me, and himself has done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Geneva Bible (1587)
What shall I say? for he hath said it to me, and he hath done it: I shall walke weakely all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my soule.
Legacy Standard Bible
"What shall I say?Indeed, He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it;I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Berean Standard Bible
What can I say? He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this. I will walk slowly all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
Contemporary English Version
There's nothing I can say in answer to you, since you are the one who has done this to me. My life has turned sour; I will limp until I die.
Complete Jewish Bible
"What is there that I can say? He has spoken to me and acted! I will go humbly all my years, remembering how bitter I was.
Darby Translation
What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done [it]. I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
Easy-to-Read Version
What can I say? He told me what would happen, and he will make it happen. I have had these troubles in my soul, so now I will be humble all my life.
George Lamsa Translation
When the LORD is against men, shall they live? But because of the life of my spirit, heal me and make me to live.
Good News Translation
What can I say? The Lord has done this. My heart is bitter, and I cannot sleep.
Lexham English Bible
What can I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I will walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
What shal I speake or say, ethat he maye this doo? yt I maye lyue out all my yeares, yee in the bytternesse of my life?
American Standard Version
What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Bible in Basic English
What am I to say? seeing that it is he who has done it: all my time of sleeping I am turning from side to side without rest.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
What 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.
King James Version (1611)
What shall I say? hee hath both spoken vnto mee, and himselfe hath done it: I shall goe softly, all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my soule.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
What shall I say? The Lorde hath made a promise to me, yea and he hym selfe hath perfourmed it: I shall therefore so long as I lyue remember this bitternesse of my lyfe.
English Revised Version
What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
ether what schal answere to me, whanne `I mysilf haue do? Y schal bithenke to thee alle my yeeris, in the bitternisse of my soule.
Update Bible Version
What shall I say? he has both spoken to me, and himself has done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Webster's Bible Translation
What shall I say? he hath both spoken to me, and himself hath done [it]: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
New English Translation
What can I say? He has decreed and acted. I will walk slowly all my years because I am overcome with grief.
New King James Version
"What shall I say?He has both spoken to me, [fn] And He Himself has done it.I shall walk carefully all my yearsIn the bitterness of my soul.
New Living Translation
But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt.
New Life Bible
"But what can I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it. I will walk with care all my years because my soul is bitter.
New Revised Standard
But what can I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. All my sleep has fled because of the bitterness of my soul.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
What can I say? Since he hath promised for me, Himself, will perform. I will go softly, all my years. Because of the bitterness of my soul,
Douay-Rheims Bible
What shall I say, or what shall he answer for me, whereas he himself hath done it? I will recount to thee all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
Revised Standard Version
But what can I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. All my sleep has fled because of the bitterness of my soul.
Young's Literal Translation
-- What do I say? seeing He said to me, And He Himself hath wrought, I go softly all my years for the bitterness of my soul.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

Contextual Overview

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered from his illness: 10 I said in the cessation of my days, I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am called to account for the rest of my years. 11 I said, I shall not see Jah Jehovah in the land of the living; I shall no longer look on man with those dwelling in the death-rest. 12 My generation is plucked up and carried away from me, like a shepherd's tent; I have cut off my life like the weaver. He will cut me off from the threads; from day to night You will make an end of me. 13 I leveled my soul until morning. Like a lion, so He shatters all my bones. From day until night You make an end of me. 14 Like a swift or a crane, so I chatter. I moan as the dove; my eyes look weakly to the heights, O Jehovah; it presses me down; be surety for me! 15 What shall I say? For He speaks to me, and He has acted. I shall go softly all my years over the bitterness of my soul. 16 O Lord, on them they live, and for all in them is the life of my spirit. And You heal me, and make me live. 17 Behold, for peace was bitter to me, most bitter; but You loved my soul from the pit of destruction; You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 18 For Sheol cannot thank You; death cannot praise You; the ones going down to the Pit cannot hope for Your truth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What: Joshua 7:8, Ezra 9:10, Psalms 39:9, Psalms 39:10, John 12:27

I shall: 1 Kings 21:27

in the: 1 Samuel 1:10, 2 Kings 4:27, Job 7:11, Job 10:1, Job 21:25

Reciprocal: Isaiah 46:11 - I have spoken

Gill's Notes on the Bible

What shall I say?.... In a way of praise and thankfulness, for the mercies promised and received; I know not what to say; I want words to express the gratitude of my heart for the kindness bestowed. What shall I render to God for all his benefits? So the Targum,

"what praise shall I utter, and I will say it before him?''

for here begins the account of his recovery, and his thanksgiving for it:

he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it; the Lord had sent him a message by the prophet, and assured him that he should recover, and on the third day go up to the temple; and now he had performed what he had promised, he was restored, and was come to the house of God with his thank offering; whatever the Lord says, he does; what he promises, he brings to pass:

I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul; before he did not reckon of a day to live, now he speaks of his years, having fifteen added to his days, during which time he should "go softly", in a thoughtful "meditating" frame of mind r; frequently calling to remembrance, and revolving in his mind, his bitter affliction, and recovery out of it, acknowledging the goodness and kindness of God unto him: or leisurely,

step by step, without fear of any enemies, dangers, or death, having a promise of such a length of time to live: or go pleasantly and

cheerfully, after the bitterness of my soul s, as it may be rendered; that is, after it is over, or because of deliverance from it. So the Targum,

"with what shall I serve him, and render to him for all the years he hath added to my life, and hath delivered me from the bitterness of my soul?''

r אדדה "motitando meditabor", Tigurine version; "leniter, vel pedetentim incedam" Vatablus; "alacriter incedam", Piscator, Vitringa. s על מר "post amaritudinem", Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

What shall I say? - This language seems to denote surprise and gratitude at unexpected deliverance. It is the language of a heart that is overflowing, and that wants words to express its deep emotions. In the previous verse he had described his pain, anguish, and despair. In this he records the sudden and surprising deliverance which God had granted; which was so great that no words could express his sense of it. Nothing could be more natural than this language; nothing would more appropriately express the feelings of a man who had been suddenly restored to health from dangerous sickness, and brought from the borders of the grave.

He hath both spoken unto me - That is, he has promised. So the word is often used Deuteronomy 26:17; Jeremiah 3:19. He had made the promise by the instrumentality of Isaiah Isaiah 38:5-6. The promise related to his recovery, to the length of his days, and to his entire deliverance from the hands of the Assyrians.

And himself hath done it - He himself has restored me according to his promise, when no one else could have done it.

I shall go softly - Lowth renders this, in accordance with the Vulgate, ‘Will I reflect.’ But the Hebrew will not bear this construction. The word used here (דדה dâdâh) occurs in but one other place in the Bible Psalms 42:4 : ‘I went with them to the house of God;’ that is, I went with them in a sacred procession to the house of God; I went with a solemn, calm, slow pace. The idea here is, ‘I will go humbly, submissively, all my life; I will walk in a serious manner, remembering that I am traveling to the grave; I will avoid pride, pomp, and display; I will suffer the remembrance of my sickness, and of God’s mercy to produce a calm, serious, thoughtful demeanour all my life.’ This is the proper effect of sickness on a pious mind, and it is its usual effect. And probably, one design of God was to keep Hezekiah from the ostentatious parade usually attendant on his lofty station; from being elated with his deliverance from the Assyrian; from improper celebrations of that deliverance by revelry and pomp; and to keep him in remembrance, that though he was a monarch, yet he was a mortal man, and that he held his life at the disposal of God.

In the bitterness of my soul - I will remember the deep distress, the bitter sorrows of my sickness, and my surprising recovery; and will allow the remembrance of that to diffuse seriousness and gratitude over all my life.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 38:15. I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul - "Through the rest of my years will I reflect on this bitterness of my soul"] אדדה eddaddeh; recogitabo, Vulg., reputabo, Hieron. in loc.


 
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