以赛亚书 38
1 那时希西家病得要死，亚摩斯的儿子先知以赛亚去见他，对他说：“耶和华如此说：你当留遗命与你的家，因为你必死不能活了。”
About 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’”
2 希西家就转脸朝墙，祷告耶和华说：
Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed this:
3 “耶和华啊，求你记念我在你面前怎样存完全的心，按诚实行事，又做你眼中所看为善的。”希西家就痛哭了。
“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.
4 耶和华的话临到以赛亚说：
[I left his room, but] Yahweh gave me this message:
5 “你去告诉希西家说，耶和华—你祖大卫的 神如此说：我听见了你的祷告，看见了你的眼泪。我必加增你十五年的寿数；
“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.
6 并且我要救你和这城脱离亚述王的手，也要保护这城。
And, I will rescue you and this city from the power [MTY] of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city.
7 “我—耶和华必成就我所说的。我先给你一个兆头，
And 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.’”
8 就是叫亚哈斯的日晷，向前进的日影往后退十度。”于是，前进的日影果然在日晷上往后退了十度。
So the shadow of the sun on the sundial moved backward ten steps.
9 犹大王希西家患病已经痊愈，就作诗说：
When King Hezekiah was almost well again, he wrote this:
I 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]?” (Sheol h7585)
11 我说：我必不得见耶和华， 就是在活人之地不见耶和华； 我与世上的居民不再见面。
I 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.
12 我的住处被迁去离开我， 好像牧人的帐棚一样； 我将性命卷起， 像织布的卷布一样。 耶和华必将我从机头剪断， 从早到晚，他要使我完结。
[It 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.
13 我使自己安静直到天亮； 他像狮子折断我一切的骨头， 从早到晚，他要使我完结。
I 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.
14 我像燕子呢喃， 像白鹤鸣叫， 又像鸽子哀鸣； 我因仰观，眼睛困倦。 耶和华啊，我受欺压， 求你为我作保。
[I 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!’
15 我可说什么呢？ 他应许我的，也给我成就了。 我因心里的苦楚， 在一生的年日必悄悄而行。
But 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.
16 主啊，人得存活乃在乎此。 我灵存活也全在此。 所以求你使我痊愈，仍然存活。
Yahweh, 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!
17 看哪，我受大苦，本为使我得平安； 你因爱我的灵魂便救我脱离败坏的坑， 因为你将我一切的罪扔在你的背后。
Truly, 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.
Dead 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]. (Sheol h7585)
19 只有活人，活人必称谢你， 像我今日称谢你一样。 为父的，必使儿女知道你的诚实。
Only 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].
20 耶和华肯救我， 所以，我们要一生一世 在耶和华殿中 用丝弦的乐器唱我的诗歌。
[I 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.”
21 以赛亚说：“当取一块无花果饼来，贴在疮上，王必痊愈。”
I 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].
22 希西家问说：“我能上耶和华的殿，有什么兆头呢？”
And Hezekiah had [previously] asked, “What will Yahweh do to prove that I will [recover and be able to] go to his temple?”
