Isaiah 8

1 And Jehovah said to me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Jehovah said to me, "Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man's pen, 'For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;'

2 And I will take to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Berechiah."

3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then Jehovah said to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said Jehovah to me, "Call his name 'Maher Shalal Hash Baz.'

4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and, My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.

For before the child knows how to say, 'My father,' and, 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria."

5 And Jehovah spoke to me yet again, saying,

Jehovah spoke to me yet again, saying,

6 Inasmuch as this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son,

"Because this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;

7 now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon them the waters of the River, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it shall come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks,

now therefore, look, Jehovah brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks.

8 and it shall sweep onward into Judah. It shall overflow and pass through; it shall reach even to the neck. And the stretching out of its wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through; it will reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, Immanuel.

9 Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and be broken in pieces. And give ear, all ye of far countries. Gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces. Gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces.

Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces. Listen, all you from far countries. Prepare for battle, and be shattered.

10 Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nothing. Speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us.

Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand: for God is with us."

11 For Jehovah spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

For Jehovah spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12 Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all of which this people shall say, A conspiracy, nor fear ye their fear, nor be in dread of it.

"Do not say, 'A conspiracy.' concerning all about which this people say, 'A conspiracy.' And do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.

13 Jehovah of hosts, him ye shall sanctify, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Jehovah of hosts is who you must regard as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a net and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

And he will be a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock that makes them fall to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many shall stumble on it, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured."

16 Bind thou up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.

Wrap up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.

17 And I will wait for Jehovah, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will be a man who has trusted in him.

I will wait for Jehovah, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will trust in him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.

Look, here I am, and the children God has given me as signs and wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

19 And when they shall say to you, Seek for those who have familiar spirits and for the wizards, who chirp and who mutter, should not a people seek for their God? On behalf of the living seek to the dead?

When they tell you, "Consult with the spirits of the dead and familiar spirits who chirp and who mutter. Shouldn't a people consult with their gods, by consulting the dead on behalf of the living?"

20 Seek to the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

Turn to the law and to the testimony. If they do not speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

21 And they shall pass through it, greatly distressed and hungry. And it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward.

They will pass through it, greatly distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward,

22 And they shall look to the earth, and, behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and into thick darkness to be driven away.

and look to the earth, and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.