Today’s Scripture:

In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness.[a] The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Give instructions to your household, for you are about to die; you will not get well.’” 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you[b] faithfully and with wholehearted devotion,[c] and how I have carried out your will.”[d] Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.[e]

4 The Lord’s message came to Isaiah, 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah: ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor[f] David says: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will also rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city.”’” 7 Isaiah replied,[g] “This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said: 8 Look, I will make the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.”[h] And then the shadow went back ten steps.[i]

9 This is the prayer of King Hezekiah of Judah when he was sick and then recovered from his illness:

10 “I thought,[j]‘In the middle of my life[k] I must walk through the gates of Sheol,I am deprived[l] of the rest of my years.’11 “I thought,

‘I will no longer see the Lord[m] in the land of the living,I will no longer look on humankind with the inhabitants of the world.[n]12 My dwelling place[o] is removed and taken away[p] from meas a shepherd’s tent.I rolled up my life like a weaver rolls cloth;[q]from the loom he cuts me off.[r]You turn day into night and end my life.[s]13 I cry out[t] until morning;like a lion he shatters all my bones;you turn day into night and end my life.[