Study Desk

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

For Sheol cannot thank You; death cannot praise You; the ones going down to the Pit cannot hope for Your truth.

The living, the living is the one thanking You; as I do today. The father makes known Your truth to his sons.

For Jehovah will save me; and we will play my songs on stringed instruments all the days of our life, at the house of Jehovah.