I said,"In the middleof my lifeI am to enterthe gatesof Sheol;I am to be deprivedof the restof my years."
"Whatis my strength,that I should wait?And whatis my end,that I should endure?
"Rememberthat my lifeis [but] breath;My eyewill not againseegood.
I say,"O my God,do not takeme awayin the midstof my days,Your yearsare throughout allgenerations.
"Of oldYou foundedthe earth,And the heavensare the workof Your hands.
Their soulabhorredallkinds of food,And they drewnearto the gatesof death.
O lovethe LORD,allyou His godlyones!The LORDpreservesthe faithfulAnd fullyrecompensesthe prouddoer.
Whateveryour handfindsto do,do[it] with [all] your might;for thereis noactivityor planningor knowledgeor wisdomin Sheolwhereyou are going.
In thosedaysHezekiahbecamemortallyill.And Isaiahthe prophetthe sonof Amozcameto him and saidto him, "Thussaysthe LORD,Setyour housein order,for you shall dieand not live.'"
A writingof Hezekiahkingof Judahafter his illnessand recovery:
"I descendedto the rootsof the mountains.The earthwith its bars[was] aroundme forever,But You have broughtup my lifefrom the pit,O LORDmy God.
indeed,we hadthe sentenceof deathwithinourselvessothat we would not trustin ourselves,but in Godwho raisesthe dead;
