The LORD will save me is literally “The LORD [is/was there] to save me” or “The LORD [is about] to save me.” The Hebrew verb for save is an infinitive. RSV/NRSV, Contemporary English Version, and New International Version use the future tense for this verb. Revised English Bible also implies a future sense with “The LORD is at hand to save me.” If the future is used, this line expresses Hezekiah’s confidence that Yahweh has heard his prayer and will respond positively. Lament Psalms almost always conclude with a vow to praise and thank God for expected, but not yet received, rescue (see, for example, Psa 7.17; 13.6; 57.7-10; 59.16-17). However, we recommend a past or present tense here since this prayer is a song of thanksgiving for benefits already received (see verse 17). In this line Hezekiah is praising God for healing him. Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch use a past tense, while New American Bible prefers the present with “The LORD is our savior.” Instead of the verb save, Good News Translation has “heal,” while New Jerusalem Bible and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch use “help.” We prefer save or “rescue.” For the Hebrew verb here see the comments on 25.9.

And we will sing to stringed instruments all the days of our life at the house of the LORD: The sudden switch from first person singular pronouns to plural ones here is typical of Hebrew poetry. However, in this case it may be deliberate as Hezekiah calls others to join him in praising Yahweh for saving him (compare Psa 69.30-32). Stringed instruments is literally “my stringed instruments,” which may be simply a more poetic expression (so NJPSV footnote|prj:NJPS.Isa 38.20). The Hebrew word rendered stringed instruments means “music [of stringed instruments]” or even “song.” Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch do not mention any instruments, but simply speak of music or singing, which is acceptable. Bible en français courant renders and we will sing to stringed instruments as “Therefore we will praise you with music,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Therefore let us sing and praise him.” Hezekiah vows to praise God all the days of our life; that is, unceasingly. He will do it at the house of the LORD, which was the Temple in Jerusalem (see 2.2). This is an appropriate location since thank offerings were normally made there.

Several translation examples for this verse are:

• Yahweh has saved me,
and we will make music of praise [on stringed instruments]
all our life,
in Yahweh’s Temple.”

• Yahweh has rescued me,
and in his Temple we will praise him all our days
on stringed instruments.”

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .