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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
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 21:27When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- Job 7:11“Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
- Job 10:1“My soul is weary of my life. I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
- Josh 7:8Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
- Job 21:25Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
- 1 Sam 1:10She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly.
- 2 Kgs 4:27When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
- John 12:27“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time.
- Ps 39:9–10I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.
- Ezra 9:10“Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your 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.