Isaiah 8

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

Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

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

And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses—Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”

3 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.'

And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

4 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."

For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

5 The LORD spoke to me yet again, saying,

And the LORD spoke to me further:

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

“Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoiced in Rezin and the son of Remaliah,

7 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.

the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates — the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.

8 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.

It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!

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

Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!

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

Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

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

For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:

12 "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.

“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

13 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.

The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.

14 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.

And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

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

Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”

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

Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.

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

I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.

18 Look, I and the children whom God has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.

19 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?"

When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

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

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

21 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,

They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.

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

Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.