Isaiah 8

1 Yahweh said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it, '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 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 the priest, and Zechariah 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 the LORD 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 and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.”

5 Yahweh spoke to me again,

The LORD 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 has 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, 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 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. It will overflow and pass through. It will reach even to the neck. The stretching out of its wings will fill the width of your land, O Immanuel.

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 the LORD spoke this 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 call a conspiracy all that this people call a conspiracy. Don’t fear their threats or be terrorised.

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.

The LORD of 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, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare.

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 covenant. Seal the law amongst 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 the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for 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 the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion.

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,” shouldn’t 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 law and to the covenant! 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. It will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse their king and 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.

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