7. Isaiah said, “The Lord will do what he says. This is the sign from the Lord to show you:
8. The sun has made a shadow go down the stairway of Ahaz. I will make it go back ten steps.” So the shadow made by the sun went back up the ten steps it had gone down.
9. After Hezekiah king of Judah got well, he wrote this song:
10. I said, “I am in the middle of my life.Do I have to go through the gates where the dead are now?Will I have the rest of my life taken away from me?”
11. I said, “I will not see the Lordin the land of the living again.I will not again see the peoplewho live on the earth.
12. Like a shepherd’s tent,my home has been pulled down and taken from me.I am finished like the clotha weaver rolls up and cuts from the loom.In one day you brought me to this end.
13. All night I cried loudly.Like a lion, he crushed all my bones.In one day you brought me to this end.
14. I cried like a bird.I moaned like a dove.My eyes became tired as I looked to the heavens.Lord, I have troubles. Please help me.”
15. 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.
16. Lord, because of you, men live.Because of you, my spirit also lives.You made me well and let me live.
17. It was for my own goodthat I had such troubles.Because you love me very much,you did not let me die.You threw my sinsfar away.
18. People in the place where the dead are cannot praise you.Those who have died cannot sing praises to you.Those who die don’t trust youto help them.
19. The people who are alive are the ones who praise you.They praise you as I praise you today.A father should tell his childrenthat you provide help.
20. The Lord saved me.So we will sing and play songs.We will make music in the Temple of the Lordall the days of our lives.