2 Kings 20

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

In that era, Hezekiah was gravely ill, on the brink of death. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, visited him, bearing a heavy message from the Lord. He told him, "Prepare your affairs, for your time is near. You won't survive this illness."

Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

He turned away, his face against the wall, and with a heavy heart, he whispered a prayer to the Lord.

I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

I beg you, Lord, please remember my honest and pure devotion to you, and the good deeds I've done for your approval. And Hezekiah cried deeply.

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

Before Isaiah could even step into the central courtyard, he felt a divine message from the Lord wash over him.

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Go back and tell Hezekiah, my people's leader, "This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I've heard your prayer and seen your tears. I promise, I will heal you. In three days, you will be able to visit the LORD's house."

And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

I promise to extend your life by fifteen years. I'll save you and this city from the Assyrian king's grip. I'll protect this city for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.

And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

Isaiah passionately instructed, "Bring me a cluster of figs." They swiftly complied, placing it on the inflamed wound. Miraculously, he healed.

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?

Hezekiah asked Isaiah, "How will I know that God will cure me and I'll be able to visit His temple in three days?"

And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

Isaiah passionately declared, "Here's your divine sign from God. He will fulfill His promise. Will the shadow advance ten steps, or retreat ten steps?"

And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

Hezekiah responded calmly, "It's easy for the shadow to move forward ten degrees. But no, let it go back ten degrees instead."

And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

The prophet Isaiah called out to God. Miraculously, God responded by moving the shadow back the ten degrees it had gone down on King Ahaz's sundial.

At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

During that period, Berodachbaladan son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, heard about Hezekiah's illness, and he sent him letters and a gift.

And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

Hezekiah listened to them attentively, and with great pride, he showed them everything he owned - his silver, gold, exotic spices, precious ointments, his armory, and all his treasures. There was nothing in his entire kingdom that Hezekiah kept hidden from them.

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

Isaiah, the prophet, approached King Hezekiah, curiosity etched on his face. "Who were those men, and where did they journey from?" he asked. Hezekiah replied, his voice heavy with the weight of their distance, "They've traveled from a far-off land, all the way from Babylon."

And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

He asked, "What did they see in your home?" Hezekiah replied, "They've seen everything. I've hidden nothing from them."

And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.

Isaiah passionately urged Hezekiah, "Listen, please, to God's message."

Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

The time is coming when everything you and your ancestors have treasured will be taken to Babylon. Nothing will remain, declares the Lord.

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Your future sons, born from your lineage, will be taken away. They will serve, stripped of their manhood, in the royal court of Babylon's king.

Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Hezekiah turned to Isaiah, expressing, "The Lord's word you've shared is good." For he thought, "Isn't it good, if at least there will be peace and security in my own lifetime?"

And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Isn't all of Hezekiah's story, his strength, and his great works, like building a pool and a canal to bring water to the city, recorded in the history book of Judah's kings?

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

Hezekiah joined his ancestors in eternal rest, and his son Manasseh took his place as king.