Isaiah 38:10–13

10 I said, “In the prime of my life

must I go through the gates of death

and be robbed of the rest of my years?”

11 I said, “I will not again see the Lord himself

in the land of the living;

no longer will I look on my fellow man,

or be with those who now dwell in this world.

12 Like a shepherd’s tent my house

has been pulled down and taken from me.

Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,

and he has cut me off from the loom;

day and night you made an end of me.

13 I waited patiently till dawn,

but like a lion he broke all my bones;

day and night you made an end of me.

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.

11 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.

10 I said, “In the prime of my life,

must I now enter the place of the dead?

Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”

11 I said, “Never again will I see the Lord God

while still in the land of the living.

Never again will I see my friends

or be with those who live in this world.

12 My life has been blown away

like a shepherd’s tent in a storm.

It has been cut short,

as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom.

Suddenly, my life was over.

13 I waited patiently all night,

but I was torn apart as though by lions.

Suddenly, my life was over.

10 I said,

“In the prime of my life

I shall go to the gates of Sheol;

I am deprived of the remainder of my years.”

11 I said,

“I shall not see Yah,

The Lord in the land of the living;

I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

12 My life span is gone,

Taken from me like a shepherd’s tent;

I have cut off my life like a weaver.

He cuts me off from the loom;

From day until night You make an end of me.

13 I have considered until morning—

Like a lion,

So He breaks all my bones;

From day until night You make an end of me.

10 I said, “I am in the middle of my life.

Do I have to go through the gates of death?

Will I have the rest of my life taken away from me?”

11 I said, “I will not see the Lord

in the land of the living again.

I will not again see the people

who live on the earth.

12 Like a shepherd’s tent,

my home has been pulled down and taken from me.

I am finished

like the cloth a weaver rolls up and cuts from the loom.

In one day you brought me to this end.

13 All night I cried loudly.

Like a lion, he crushed all my bones.

In one day you brought me to this end.

10 I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol:

I am deprived of the residue of my years.

11 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.

12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd’s tent:

I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life; he will cut me off from the loom:

From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

13 I quieted myself until morning; as a lion, so he breaketh all my bones:

From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

10 I said, In the meridian of my days I shall go to the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the rest of my years. 11 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. 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 separateth me from the thrum: —from day to night thou wilt make an end of me. 13 I kept still until the morning; …as a lion, so doth he break all my bones. From day to night thou wilt make an end of me.

10 I thought that in the prime of my life 

I would go down to the gates of Sheol 

and be robbed of the rest of my life. 

11 I thought that I wouldn’t see the Lord in this world. 

Even with all the people in the world, 

I thought I would never see another person. 

12 My life was over. 

You rolled it up like a shepherd’s tent. 

You rolled up my life like a weaver. 

You cut me off from the loom. 

You ended my life in one day. 

13 I cried out until morning 

as if a lion had crushed all my bones. 

You ended my life in one day. 

10 I said: In the prime of my life

I must go to the gates of Sheol;

I am deprived of the rest of my years.

11 I said: I will never see the Lord,

the Lord in the land of the living;

I will not look on humanity any longer

with the inhabitants of what is passing away.

12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me

like a shepherd’s tent.

I have rolled up my life like a weaver;

He cuts me off from the loom.

You make an end of me from day until night.

13 I thought until the morning:

He will break all my bones like a lion;

You make an end of me day and night.

10 I said: In the noontide of my days

I must depart;

I am consigned to the gates of Sheol

for the rest of my years.

11 I said, I shall not see the Lord

in the land of the living;

I shall look upon mortals no more

among the inhabitants of the world.

12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me

like a shepherd’s tent;

like a weaver I have rolled up my life;

he cuts me off from the loom;

from day to night you bring me to an end;

13 I cry for help until morning;

like a lion he breaks all my bones;

from day to night you bring me to an end.

10 I was the one who said, “I must go in the quiet of my days;

I am summoned through the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years.”

11 I said, “I shall not see Yah! Yah in the land of the living!

I shall no more look at humankind among the inhabitants of the world.

12 My dwelling place is pulled up and removed from me like the tent of my shepherd;

I have rolled up my life like a weaver.

He cuts me off from the thrum;

from day to night you bring me to an end.

13 I lie down until morning;

like a lion, so he breaks all my bones;

from day to night you bring me to an end.

10 I said, “I’m enjoying the best years of my life.

Must I now go through the gates of death?

Will the rest of my years be taken away from me?”

11 I said, “Lord, I’ll never see you again

while I’m still alive.

I’ll never see people anymore.

I’ll never again be with those who live in this world.

12 My body is like a shepherd’s tent.

It has been pulled down and carried off.

My life is like a piece of cloth that I’ve rolled up.

You have cut it off from the loom.

In a short period of time you have brought my life to an end.

13 I waited patiently until sunrise.

But like a lion you broke all of my bones.

In a short period of time you have brought my life to an end.

10 I said, “In the middle of my life

I am to enter the gates of Sheol;

I am to be deprived of the rest of my years.”

11 I said, “I will not see the Lord,

The Lord in the land of the living;

I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

12 “Like a shepherd’s tent my dwelling is pulled up and removed from me;

As a weaver I rolled up my life.

He cuts me off from the loom;

From day until night You make an end of me.

13 “I composed my soul until morning.

Like a lion—so He breaks all my bones,

From day until night You make an end of me.