Isaiah 38:15-16

Two extremely difficult verses. As commonly explained, Isaiah 38:15 introduces the second half of the song with an exclamation of amazement at the wonderful deliverance experienced. Literally it reads:

"What shall I say? And He said to me and He(emphatic) did it;

I shall walk with leisurely pace all my years because of the bitterness of my soul."

The words he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath doneit would refer to the promise of recovery through the prophet, and the fulfilment of it. This whole conception of the verse is vigorously criticised by Duhm, who renders thus:

"What shall I speak and say to Him since Hehas done it?

I toss to and fro all my sleeping time because of the bitterness of my soul."

The Hebr. word rendered "toss to and fro" is found again only in Psalms 42:4, where it means "to walk in festal procession." Duhm in this passage is disposed to connect it with a noun found in Job 7:4 ("tossings to and fro").