Isaiah 38:14

Prayer Exhaustion Grief

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.

Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”
KJV: Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
WEB: I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”
ASV: Like a swallow [or] a crane, so did I chatter; I did moan as a dove; mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.
DARBY: Like a swallow [or] a crane, so did I chatter; I mourned as a dove; mine eyes failed [with looking] upward: Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
BLB: Like a swallow or crane, so I chirp; I moan like a dove; my eyes are worn out from up high. O Lord, oppression [is] unto me; be my security!”

ÅB: Som en svale, som en trane, slik klynket jeg, jeg kurret som en due; matte så mine øyne mot det høye: Herre! Jeg er redd, gå i borgen for meg!
OTB: Jeg kvitret som en svale eller en trane, jeg stønnet som en due. Mine øyne ble svake mens jeg så opp mot himmelen. Jeg er undertrykt, Herre, vær min støtte!”
B1930: Som en svale, som en trane, således klynket jeg, jeg kurret som en due; matte så mine øine mot det høie: Herre! Jeg er redd, gå i borgen for mig!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 59:11
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
Read in context
Psalms 69:3
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Read in context
Job 30:29
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
Read in context
Ezekiel 7:16
But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.
Read in context
Psalms 123:1–4
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Read in context
Psalms 119:122–123
Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
Read in context
Nahum 2:7
And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
Read in context
Psalms 143:7
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Read in context