Isaiah 38:11
9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
12 Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
13 I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world.
- KJV
- I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
- WEB
- I said, “I won’t see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
- ASV
- I said, I shall not see Jehovah, [even] Jehovah in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
- DARBY
- I said, I shall not see Jah, Jah in the land of the living. With those who dwell where all has ceased to be, I shall behold man no more.
- BLB
- I said, “I will not see YAH—YAH in the land of the living. I will look on mankind no more among those dwelling in the world.
- ÅB
- Jeg sa: Jeg skal ikke se Herren, Herren i de levendes land jeg skal ikke skue mennesker mere blant dem som bor i det stille.
- OTB
- Jeg sa, “Jeg vil ikke se Herren i de levendes land; jeg vil ikke lenger se menneskene eller være blant verdens innbyggere.
- B1930
- Jeg sa: Jeg skal ikke se Herren, Herren i de levendes land jeg skal ikke skue mennesker mere blandt dem som bor i det stille.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 27:13
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Read in contextPsalms 116:8–9
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 9:5–6
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Read in contextPsalms 6:4–5
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
Read in contextJob 35:14–15
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
Read in contextPsalms 31:22
For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
Read in context