Isaiah 7
1 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.
During the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but they could not prevail against it.
2 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.
It was reported to the house of David that Aram was allied with Ephraim. His heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest shake in the wind.
3 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.
Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-Jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the road to Launderer's Field.
4 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.
Tell him, 'Be careful, remain calm, do not be afraid or intimidated by these two smoldering firebrands, by the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Pekah son of Remaliah.
5 Aram has plotted to destroy you together with Ephraim and Remaliah's son saying,
Aram, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have planned evil against you; they have said,
6 Let's go and attack Judah! We'll terrorize it and conquer it for ourselves, and make Tabeel's son its king.”
“Let us attack Judah and terrify her, and let us break into her and set up our king there, the son of Tabeel.”
7 But this is what the Lord God says, “This plan won't materialize—it just won't happen!
The Lord Yahweh says, “It will not take place; it will not happen,
8 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.
because the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years, Ephraim will be shattered and will no longer be a people.
9 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.”
The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you do not remain firm in faith, surely you will not remain secure.”'”
10 Later the Lord sent another message to Ahaz,
The Lord spoke again to Ahaz,
11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether as deep as where people are buried or as high as heaven.” (Sheol h7585)
“Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask for it in the depths or in the height above.” (Sheol h7585)
12 “No, I'm not going to ask,” Ahaz replied. “I refuse to put the Lord to the test.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test Yahweh.”
13 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?
So Isaiah replied, “Listen, house of David. Is it not enough for you people to test the patience of people? Must you also test the patience of my God?
14 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.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you people a sign: See, the young woman will conceive, bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel.
15 He will eat curds and honey until the time he knows to refuse evil and choose the good.
He will eat curds and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.
16 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.
For before the child knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be desolate.
17 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!”
Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your father's house days unlike any since Ephraim seceded from Judah—he will bring on you the king of Assyria.”
18 At that time the Lord will whistle to call flies from the distant rivers of Egypt and bees from the country of Assyria.
At that time Yahweh will whistle for a fly from the distant streams of Egypt, and for a bee from the land of Assyria.
19 They will all come and descend on the steep valleys and rock crevices, on all the thorn bushes and waterholes.
They will all come and settle down into all the gorges, into the clefts of the rocks, on all the thornbushes, and onto all the pastures.
20 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.
At that time the Lord will shave with a razor that was hired beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria— the head and the hair of the legs; it will also sweep away the beard.
21 At that time a someone who manages to keep a young cow and two sheep alive
On that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep,
22 will eat curds, because they produce so much milk—for everyone who survives in the land will eat curds and honey.
and because of the abundance of milk which they shall give, he will eat curds, for everyone left in the land will eat curds and honey.
23 At that time everywhere that once had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will only have brambles and thorns.
At that time, where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be nothing but briers and thorns.
24 People will go hunting there with bows and arrows because the land will be covered with brambles and thorns.
Men will go there to hunt with bows, because all the land will be briers and thorns.
25 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.
They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated with the hoe, for fear of the briers and thorns; but it will be a place where cattle and sheep graze.
