Verses 10-20 are the actual prayer of Hezekiah. All the first person pronouns refer to him.

I said is literally correct, but it is better rendered “I thought” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible; similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). These words introduce Hezekiah’s thoughts. Bible en français courant has “I said to myself,” which is another good model. New International Version places quote marks around his thoughts in this verse (see also the second and third examples below), but Good News Translation makes them indirect. Translators may follow either model.

In the noontide of my days renders a Hebrew idiom that Good News Translation, New International Version, and Revised English Bible translate as “in the prime of [my] life.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is similar with “in the middle of my days,” and so is Bible en français courant with “I have only lived half of my life.” However, the Hebrew word rendered noontide can mean “rest” or “silence,” so this idiom may refer to the end of Hezekiah’s life. We prefer it as a reference to the prime of his life.

I must depart is literally “I must go.” Bible en français courant says “I have to go.” In languages that must state a destination, it may be rendered “I must depart this life” or “I must go to the world of the dead” (similarly Good News Translation). Other possible renderings are “I must depart this life” and “I must pass away” (Revised English Bible). Most languages will have an appropriate euphemism for death that can be used here.

I am consigned to the gates of Sheol also means that Hezekiah must die. The passive verb consigned refers to the decision made for him to die. If this passive verb needs to be made active, I am consigned may be rendered “Yahweh has sent me” (see also the examples below). Sheol refers to the place of the dead, where it was believed that people continue to have some kind of existence (see the comments on 5.14). The gates of Sheol pictures it as a city, from which no one can escape. This phrase occurs only here in the Bible, but similar phrases are found elsewhere (see Job 38.17; Psa 9.13; 107.18; Matt 16.18). Good News Translation renders it simply as “the world of the dead,” which is acceptable. If translators prefer to keep the figure of gates, a good alternative rendering for the whole clause here is “I must go through the gates of Sheol” (similarly New International Version).

For the rest of my years: There are two possible interpretations for this phrase. For some scholars it means Hezekiah will be in Sheol permanently. Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible express this sense with “for the rest of my days,” which is a more natural idiom in English. For others it means Hezekiah will spend the remaining years of his life in Sheol instead of on earth. New International Version expresses this sense with “and be robbed of the rest of my years.” Bible en français courant also follows this meaning by rendering the last two lines as “The years of my life that were left to me I will have to pass in the world of the dead.” Translators may follow either interpretation here.

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• “I thought that I had to depart this life in my prime,
that I had to go through the gates of Sheol
and stay there for the rest of my days.

• “I thought, ‘I must depart this life in my prime;
I am heading for [the gates of] Sheol for the remainder of my days.’

• “I thought, ‘I have only lived half of my life,
and the remainder I will have to spend in Sheol.’

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 .