Isaiah 7

1 Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.

It was during the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Aram, marched to attack Jerusalem. Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, joined in the attack, but they couldn't conquer the city.

2 When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.

When the royal family of Judah was told, “Aram and Ephraim have an alliance,” Ahaz and his people were terrified and they shook like trees in the forest tossed about by the wind.

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,

Then the Lord told Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub with you and go and meet Ahaz. He'll be at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the laundry field.

4 and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

Tell him, ‘Calm down and keep quiet. Don't be afraid or scared over a couple of smoldering bits of firewood, over the burning anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Remaliah's son.

5 For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:

Aram has plotted to destroy you together with Ephraim and Remaliah's son saying,

6 ‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’

Let's go and attack Judah! We'll terrorize it and conquer it for ourselves, and make Tabeel's son its king.”

7 But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.

But this is what the Lord God says, “This plan won't materialize—it just won't happen!

8 For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.

For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. In addition, within sixty-five years Israel as a nation will be destroyed.

9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”

The head of Israel is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you don't trust in me, then you won't survive.”

10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,

Later the Lord sent another message to Ahaz,

11 “Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.” (Sheol h7585)

“Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether as deep as where people are buried or as high as heaven.” (Sheol h7585)

12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”

“No, I'm not going to ask,” Ahaz replied. “I refuse to put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?

Then Isaiah said, “Listen, royal family of Judah! Isn't it enough for you to wear people out? Do you have to wear my God out too?

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

This is why the Lord himself is going to give you a sign. Look! The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel.

15 By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.

He will eat curds and honey until the time he knows to refuse evil and choose the good.

16 For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

For before the boy knows to refuse evil and choose the good, the land of the two kings you're afraid of will be deserted.

17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”

The Lord will make you, your people, and the royal family experience a time unlike anything since the day Ephraim split from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria to attack you!”

18 On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.

At that time the Lord will whistle to call flies from the distant rivers of Egypt and bees from the country of Assyria.

19 And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes.

They will all come and descend on the steep valleys and rock crevices, on all the thorn bushes and waterholes.

20 On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates —the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.

At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave you from head to toe, including your beards.

21 On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep,

At that time a someone who manages to keep a young cow and two sheep alive

22 and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

will eat curds, because they produce so much milk—for everyone who survives in the land will eat curds and honey.

23 And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found.

At that time everywhere that once had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will only have brambles and thorns.

24 Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.

People will go hunting there with bows and arrows because the land will be covered with brambles and thorns.

25 For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample.

In fact, all the hills that were once tilled by the hoe you won't want to go to because you'll worry about the brambles and thorns there. They'll just be where cattle are let loose and where sheep roam.