Isaiah 8

1 And the Lord said to me, Take a great writing-board, and on it put down in common letters, Maher-shalal-hash-baz;

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

2 And take true witnesses to the writing, 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 in to my wife, and she became with child, and gave birth to a son. Then the Lord said to me, Give him the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz,

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

4 For before the child is able to say, Father, or, Mother, the wealth of Damascus and the goods of Samaria will be taken away by 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 the Lord said again to me,

The LORD spoke to me yet again, saying,

6 Because this people will have nothing to do with the softly-flowing waters of Shiloah, and have fear of 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 For this cause the Lord is sending on them the waters of the River, deep and strong, even the king of Assyria and all his glory: and it will come up through all its streams, overflowing all its edges:

now therefore, look, the LORD 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 will come on into Judah; rushing on and overflowing, till the waters are up to the neck; and his outstretched wings will be covering the land from side to side: for God is with us.

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 Have knowledge, O peoples, and be in fear; give ear, all you far-off parts of the earth:

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

10 Let your designs be formed, and they will come to nothing; give your orders, and they will not be effected: 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 the Lord, controlling me with a strong hand, gave me orders not to go in the way of this people, saying,

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

12 Do not say, It is holy, about everything of which this people says, It is holy; and do not be in fear of what they go in fear of.

"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 But let the Lord of armies be holy to you, and go in fear of him, giving honour to him.

The LORD 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 will be for a holy place: but for a stone of falling and a rock of trouble to the two houses of Israel, and to the men of Jerusalem, for a net in which they may be taken.

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 numbers of them, falling on the stone, will be broken, and will be taken in the net.

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

16 Let my teaching be kept secret: and my words be given to my disciples only.

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

17 And I will be waiting for the Lord, whose face is veiled from the house of Jacob, and I will be looking for him.

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

18 See, I and the children whom the Lord has given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of armies, whose resting-place is in Mount Zion.

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

19 And when they say to you, Make request for us to those who have control of spirits, and to those wise in secret arts, who make hollow bird-like sounds; is it not right for a people to make request to their gods, to make request for the living 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 Then say to them, Put your faith in the teaching and the witness. ... If they do not say such things. ... For him there is no dawn. ...

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 he will go through the land in bitter trouble and in need of food; and when he is unable to get food, he will become angry, cursing his king and his God, and his eyes will be turned to heaven on high;

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 he will be looking down on the earth, and there will be trouble and dark clouds, black night where there is no seeing.

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