Isaiah 37:1-3

37:1 When King Hezekiah heard this, ¹  he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the Lord’s temple. 37:2 Eliakim the palace supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, ²  clothed in sackcloth, sent this message to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz: 37:3 “This is what Hezekiah says: ³  ‘This is a day of distress, insults, ⁴  and humiliation, ⁵  as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through. ⁶ 

[37:1]  ¹ tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[37:2]  ² tn Heb “elders of the priests” (so KJV, NAB, NASB); NCV “the older priests”; NRSV, TEV, CEV “the senior priests.”

[37:3]  ³ tn In the Hebrew text this verse begins with “they said to him” (cf. NRSV).

[37:3]  ⁴ tn Or “rebuke” (KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV), or “correction.”

[37:3]  ⁵ tn Or “contempt”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “disgrace.”

[37:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “when sons come to the cervical opening and there is no strength to give birth.”