Isaiah 8:1-15
Then the LORD said to me, Take a large tablet and write on it in common
characters, "Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz," and have it attested for
me by reliable witnesses, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of
Jeberechiah. And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a
son. Then the LORD said to me, Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz; for before
the child knows how to call "My father" or "My mother," the wealth of
Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of
Assyria.
The LORD spoke to me again: Because this people has refused the waters of
Shiloah that flow gently, and melt in fear before Rezin and the son of
Remaliah; therefore, the LORD is bringing up against it the mighty flood
waters of the River, the king of Assyria and all his glory; it will rise
above all its channels and overflow all its banks; it will sweep on into
Judah as a flood, and, pouring over, it will reach up to the neck; and its
outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.
Band together, you peoples, and be dismayed;
listen, all you far countries;
gird yourselves and be dismayed;
gird yourselves and be dismayed!
Take counsel together, but it shall be brought to naught;
speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us
For the LORD spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and
warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: Do not call
conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what it
fears, or be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as
holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. He will become a
sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will
become a rock one stumbles over — a trap and a snare for the inhabitants
of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be
broken; they shall be snared and taken.
