Isaiah 8

1 Yahweh said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it, 'Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.'

Adonai said to me, “Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man’s pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz’;

2 I will summon faithful witnesses to attest for me, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”

and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah [My light Yah] the priest, and Zechariah [Remembered by Yah] the son of Jeberechiah.”

3 I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then Yahweh said to me, “Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.

I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then Adonai said to me, “Call his name ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’

4 For before the child knows to cry, 'My father,' and, 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.”

For before the child knows how to say, ‘My father,’ and, ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus [Bucket of blood] and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria [Level plain].”

5 Yahweh spoke to me again,

Adonai spoke to me yet again, saying,

6 “Because this people has refused the gentle waters of Shiloah, and is happy over 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 therefore the Lord is about to bring up on them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels and overflow its banks.

now therefore, behold, 'Adonay [Lord] brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria [Level plain] and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks.

8 The River will sweep onward into Judah, flooding and passing on, until it reaches to your neck. Its outstretched wings will fill the breadth of your land, Immanuel.”

It will sweep onward into Judah [Praised]. It will overflow and pass through; it will reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings will fill the width of your land, 'Immanu El [God is with us].

9 You peoples will be broken to pieces. Listen, all you distant countries: arm yourselves for war and be broken in pieces; arm yourselves and be broken in pieces.

Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Listen, all you from far countries: dress for battle, and be shattered! Dress for battle, and be shattered!

10 Form a plan, but it will not be carried out; issue the command, but it will not be carried out, 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 Yahweh spoke to me, with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people.

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

12 Do not call conspiracy anything that this people calls conspiracy, you will not fear what they fear, and do not be terrified.

“Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized.

13 It is Yahweh of hosts whom you will honor as holy; he is the one you must fear, and he is the one you must dread.

Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.

14 He will become a sanctuary; but he will be a stone of striking, and a rock of stumbling— for both the houses of Israel, and he will be a trap and a snare to the people of Jerusalem.

He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel [God prevails], he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem [City of peace].

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

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

16 Bind up my testimony, seal the official record, and give it to my disciples.

Wrap up the testimony. Seal the Torah ·Teaching· among my disciples.

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

I will wait for Adonai, who hides his face from the house of Jacob [Supplanter], and I will trust in him.

18 See, I and the sons whom Yahweh has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Yahweh of hosts, who lives on Mount Zion.

Behold, I and the children whom Adonai has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel [God prevails] from Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies], who dwells in Mount Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking].

19 They will say to you, “Consult with the mediums and spiritists,” those who chirp and mutter incantations. But should a people not consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” should not a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not say such things, it is because they have no light of dawn.

Turn to the Torah ·Teaching· and to the testimony! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

21 They will pass through the land greatly distressed and hungry. When they are hungry, they will become angry and curse their king and their God, as they turn their faces upward.

They will pass through it, very 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 They will look at the earth and see distress, darkness, and oppressive gloom. They will be driven into a land of darkness.

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