Isaiah 38:14
New International Version
I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!”

New Living Translation
Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane, and then I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”

English Standard Version
Like a swallow or a crane I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety!

Berean Standard Bible
I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”

King James Bible
Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

New King James Version
Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O LORD, I am oppressed; Undertake for me!

New American Standard Bible
“Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.

NASB 1995
“Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.

NASB 1977
“Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.

Legacy Standard Bible
Like a swallow, like a crane, so I chirped; I moan like a dove; My eyes look wistfully to the heights; O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.

Amplified Bible
“Like a swallow, like a crane, so I chirp; I coo like a dove. My eyes look wistfully upward; O Lord, I am oppressed, take my side and be my security.

Christian Standard Bible
I chirp like a swallow or a crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; support me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I chirp like a swallow or a crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; support me.

American Standard Version
Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter; I did moan as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.

Contemporary English Version
I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD. I am in terrible trouble. Please come and help me.

English Revised Version
Like a swallow or a crane, so did I chatter; I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward; O LORD, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I chirped like swallows and cranes. I cooed like doves. My eyes were tired from looking up to heaven. I've suffered miserably, O Lord! Please help me!

Good News Translation
My voice was thin and weak, And I moaned like a dove. My eyes grew tired from looking to heaven. LORD, rescue me from all this trouble.

International Standard Version
Like a swallow or a crane I chirp, I moan like a dove. My eyes look weakly upward. O Lord, I am oppressed, so stand up for me!

Majority Standard Bible
I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.?

NET Bible
Like a swallow or a thrush I chirp, I coo like a dove; my eyes grow tired from looking up to the sky. O sovereign master, I am oppressed; help me!

New Heart English Bible
I chip like a swallow or a thrush. I moan like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward.LORD, I am oppressed. Be my security."

Webster's Bible Translation
Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered: I mourned as a dove: my eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

World English Bible
I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
As a crane—a swallow—so I chatter, "" I mourn as a dove, "" My eyes have been drawn up on high, "" O YHWH, oppression [is] on me, be my guarantor.

Young's Literal Translation
As a crane -- a swallow -- so I chatter, I mourn as a dove, Drawn up have been mine eyes on high, O Jehovah, oppression is on me, be my surety.

Smith's Literal Translation
As the twittering swallow so shall I chirp: I shall murmur as the dove: mine eyes languished for height: O Jehovah, oppression is to me; be surety for me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will cry like a young swallow, I will meditate like a dove: my eyes are weakened looking upward: Lord, I suffer violence, answer thou for me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will cry out, like a young swallow. I will meditate, like a dove. My eyes have been weakened by gazing upward. O Lord, I suffer violence! Answer in my favor.

New American Bible
Like a swallow I chirp; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weary looking heavenward: Lord, I am overwhelmed; go security for me!

New Revised Standard Version
Like a swallow or a crane I clamor, I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it, and has caused my sleep to flee because of the bitterness of my soul;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Like a swallow that chirps, I chirped, and like a dove I mourned. I have lifted my eyes on high. LORD JEHOVAH, save me and cheer me up!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Like a swallow or a crane, so do I chatter, I do moan as a dove; Mine eyes fail with looking upward. O LORD, I am oppressed, be Thou my surety.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As a swallow, so will I cry, and as a dove, so do I mourn: for mine eyes have failed with looking to the height of heaven to the Lord, who has delivered me,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving
13I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me. 14I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.” 15What can I say? He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this. I will walk slowly all my years because of the anguish of my soul.…

Cross References
Psalm 102:6-7
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. / I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.

Psalm 77:4
You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak.

Job 7:7
Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.

Job 7:11
Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 30:29
I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches.

Lamentations 3:29
Let him bury his face in the dust—perhaps there is still hope.

Psalm 39:12-13
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers. / Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”

Psalm 55:2
Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught

Psalm 142:2
I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.

Psalm 31:9-10
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

Matthew 26:38-39
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” / Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Luke 22:44
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.


Treasury of Scripture

Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: my eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

a crane

Job 30:29
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

Psalm 102:4-7
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread…

I did mourn

Isaiah 59:11
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

Ezekiel 7:16
But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

Nahum 2:7
And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.

mine eyes

Psalm 69:3
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalm 119:82,123
Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? …

Psalm 123:1-4
A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens…

I am

Psalm 119:122
Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.

Psalm 143:7
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

undertake for me.

Jump to Previous
Aid Bird Cause Chatter Clamor Crane Cried Cries Crushed Desire Dove Drawn Eyes Fail Failed Grew Grief Heavens Heights Moan Moaned Mourn Mourned Mourning Oppressed Security Sounds Surety Swallow Swift Undertake Upward Weak Weaken Weary
Jump to Next
Aid Bird Cause Chatter Clamor Crane Cried Cries Crushed Desire Dove Drawn Eyes Fail Failed Grew Grief Heavens Heights Moan Moaned Mourn Mourned Mourning Oppressed Security Sounds Surety Swallow Swift Undertake Upward Weak Weaken Weary
Isaiah 38
1. Hezekiah, having received a message of death, by prayer has his life lengthened
8. The sun goes ten degrees backward, for a sign of that promise
9. His song of thanksgiving.














I chirp like a swallow or a crane
The imagery of a "swallow" or "crane" evokes a sense of vulnerability and desperation. In the Hebrew text, the word for "chirp" (צפף, tsaphaph) suggests a high-pitched, plaintive sound, akin to the cries of these birds. Historically, swallows and cranes were common in the region, known for their migratory patterns and distinctive calls. This metaphor reflects Hezekiah's frail state, as he likens his cries to those of small, defenseless creatures. The use of birds in biblical literature often symbolizes fleeting life and the need for divine intervention.

I moan like a dove
The "dove" (יונה, yonah) is a symbol of mourning and lamentation in the Bible. Doves are known for their soft, mournful cooing, which is often associated with sorrow and longing. In the context of Hezekiah's illness, this phrase captures his deep emotional and physical distress. The dove's moan is a universal expression of grief, resonating with the human experience of suffering and the yearning for comfort. This imagery underscores the king's plea for God's mercy and healing.

My eyes grow weak as I look upward
The phrase "my eyes grow weak" conveys a sense of exhaustion and helplessness. In Hebrew, the word for "weak" (דלל, dalal) can also mean to languish or be feeble. This physical weakening is compounded by the act of "looking upward," which signifies seeking divine help. In ancient Near Eastern culture, looking upward was a gesture of prayer and supplication. Hezekiah's failing eyesight symbolizes his diminishing hope and reliance on God's intervention. It is a poignant reminder of human frailty and the need for divine strength.

O Lord, I am oppressed
The invocation "O Lord" (יהוה, Yahweh) is a direct appeal to the covenant-keeping God of Israel. The term "oppressed" (עשק, ashaq) indicates being crushed or burdened by affliction. Hezekiah's use of this word reflects his acute awareness of his dire situation and his dependence on God's deliverance. In the broader biblical narrative, God is portrayed as a defender of the oppressed, offering hope and justice. This plea highlights the king's trust in God's character and promises.

be my security
The request for "security" (ערב, arab) implies a desire for assurance and protection. In the ancient world, this term was often used in legal contexts to denote a pledge or guarantee. Hezekiah is asking God to be his guarantor, to provide safety and stability amidst his turmoil. This appeal is rooted in the biblical understanding of God as a refuge and fortress for those in distress. It is an expression of faith, acknowledging that true security comes from the Lord alone. This closing phrase encapsulates the essence of Hezekiah's prayer: a heartfelt reliance on God's unwavering support.

(14) Like a crane . . .--The three birds--strictly, the "swift," the "crane," the "dove"--each with its special note of lamentation, represent, as it were, the cries of pain and the low suppressed wail of the sufferer. The three appear again together in Jeremiah 8:7.

Undertake for me--i.e., as in Genesis 43:9; Genesis 44:32; Job 17:3, Be surety for me. The idea is that of Death, who, yet in another sense, is but the minister of Jehovah, as being the creditor pressing for immediate payment. The words involve (as Cheyne points out) something like an appeal to the judge, who is also the accuser, to be bail for the accused.

Verse 14. - Like a crane or a swallow. The sus, here translated "crane," is probably "the swift," which has a loud, shrill note. The, agur is, perhaps, "the crane;" but this is very uncertain. The two words occur as the names of birds only here and in Jeremiah 8:7. So did I chatter; rather, so did I scream (Cheyne). I did mourn; rather, I did moan. Mine eyes fail with looking upward; rather, mine eyes are weak to look upward; i.e. I have scarcely the courage or the strength to look to Jehovah; yet still I do look to him falteringly, and make my appeal: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me (comp. Job 17:3); literally, be Surety for me. "The image," as Mr. Cheyne says, "is that of a debtor, who is being dragged to prison" at the suit of an exacting creditor, and for whom there is but one hope of relief; viz. if he can obtain a sufficient surety. Hezekiah calls on God to be the Surety; but God is the Creditor! Still, there is an appeal from God's justice to God's mercy - from Jehovah who punishes to Jehovah who forgives sin; and this appeal Hezekiah seems to intend to make when he beseeches God to "undertake for him."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I chirp
אֲצַפְצֵ֔ף (’ă·ṣap̄·ṣêp̄)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6850: To chirp, peep

like a swallow
כְּס֤וּס (kə·sūs)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

or crane;
עָגוּר֙ (‘ā·ḡūr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5693: (a kind of bird) perhaps a crane

I moan
אֶהְגֶּ֖ה (’eh·geh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1897: To moan, growl, utter, speak, muse

like a dove.
כַּיּוֹנָ֑ה (kay·yō·w·nāh)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3123: A dove

My eyes
עֵינַי֙ (‘ê·nay)
Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

grow weak
דַּלּ֤וּ (dal·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1809: To slacken, be feeble, to be oppressed

[as I look] upward.
לַמָּר֔וֹם (lam·mā·rō·wm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4791: Altitude

O Lord,
אֲדֹנָ֖י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

I am oppressed;
עָֽשְׁקָה־ (‘ā·šə·qāh-)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6234: Oppression, distress

be my security.
עָרְבֵֽנִי׃ (‘ā·rə·ḇê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6148: To braid, intermix, technically, to traffic, give to be security


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 38:14 I chattered like a swallow (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 38:13
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