A warning and a hope

1The LORD said, “Isaiah, get something to write on. Then write in big clear letters8.1 in big clear letters: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. the name, MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ.8.1 MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ: In Hebrew “Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz” means “suddenly attacked, quickly taken”. 2I will tell Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah to serve as witnesses to this.”

3Some time later, my wife and I had a son, and the LORD said, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 4Because before he can say ‘Mummy’ or ‘Daddy’, the king of Assyria will attack and take everything of value from Damascus and Samaria.”

5The LORD spoke to me again and said:

6These people have refused the gentle waters of Shiloah8.6 Shiloah: The canal that brought water from Gihon Spring to Jerusalem. and have gladly gone over to the side of King Rezin and King Pekah. 7Now I will send the king of Assyria against them with his powerful army, which will attack like the mighty River Euphrates overflowing its banks. 8Enemy soldiers will cover Judah like a flood reaching up to your neck.

But God is with us.8.8 God is with us: Here and in verse 10 this translates the Hebrew word “Immanuel” (see 7.14).

He will spread his wings

and protect our land.8.8 But…land: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

9All you foreign nations,

go ahead and prepare for war,

but you will be crushed.

10Get together and make plans,

but you will fail

because God is with us.

11The LORD took hold of me with his powerful hand and said:

I'm warning you! Don't act like these people. 12Don't call something a rebellious plot, just because they do, and don't be afraid of something, just because they are.8.12,13: 1 P 3.14,15. 13I am the one you should fear and respect. I am the holy God, the LORD All-Powerful! 14-15Run to me for protection. I am a rock that will make both Judah and Israel stumble and break their bones. I am a trap that will catch the people of Jerusalem—they will be captured and dragged away.8.14,15: 1 P 2.8.

Isaiah and his followers

16My message and my teachings are to be sealed and given to my followers. 17Meanwhile, I patiently trust the LORD, even though he is no longer pleased with Israel.8.17: He 2.13. 18My children and I are warning signs to Israel from the LORD All-Powerful, who lives on Mount Zion.8.18: He 2.13.

19Someone may say to you, “Go to the fortune-tellers who make soft chirping sounds or ask the spirits of the dead. After all, a nation ought to be able to ask its own gods 20what it should do.”

None of those who talk like that will live to see the light of day! 21They will go around in great pain and will become so hungry that they will angrily curse their king and their gods. And when they try to find help in heaven 22and on earth, they will find only trouble and darkness, terrible trouble and deepest darkness.