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.
Parallel translations
- WEB What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV “What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul.
- NASB ¶“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.
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Hezekiah marvels that God both spoke and acted to heal him, and vows to walk humbly all his years. Deliverance produces lasting humility.
Overview
Recognizing that God himself promised and performed his recovery, the king resolves to live carefully because of the anguish he endured. The brush with death leaves him chastened and grateful rather than presumptuous. Suffering, rightly received, deepens humble dependence on the God who saves.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Kgs 21:27And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- Job 7:11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
- Job 10:1My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
- Josh 7:8O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
- Job 21:25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
- 1 Sam 1:10And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
- 2 Kgs 4:27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
- John 12:27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
- Ps 39:9–10I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
- Ezra 9:10And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 38:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.