[1] Then the LORD said to me, "Take a large tablet and write upon it in
common characters, `Belonging to Ma'her-shal'al-hash-baz.'" [2] And I got
reliable witnesses, Uri'ah the priest and Zechari'ah the son of
Jeberechi'ah, to attest for me. [3] And I went to the prophetess, and she
conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name
Ma'her-shal'al-hash-baz; [4] for before the child knows how to cry `My
father' or `My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Sama'ria
will be carried away before the king of Assyria." [5] The LORD spoke to me
again: [6] "Because this people have refused the waters of Shilo'ah that
flow gently, and melt in fear before Rezin and the son of Remali'ah; [7]
therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the
River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory; and it will
rise over all its channels and go over all its banks; [8] and it will sweep
on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck; and
its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Imman'u-el." [9]
Be broken, you peoples, and be dismayed; give ear, all you far countries;
gird yourselves and be dismayed; gird yourselves and be dismayed. [10] Take
counsel together, but it will come to nought; speak a word, but it will not
stand, for God is with us. [11] For the LORD spoke thus to me with his
strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people,
saying: [12] "Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy,
and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. [13] But the LORD of
hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be
your dread. [14] And he will become a sanctuary, and a stone of offense,
and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. [15] And many shall stumble thereon; they shall
fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken." [16] Bind up the
testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples. [17] I will wait for the
LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in
him. [18] Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs
and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
[19] And when they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the wizards who
chirp and mutter," should not a people consult their God? Should they
consult the dead on behalf of the living? [20] To the teaching and to the
testimony! Surely for this word which they speak there is no dawn. [21]
They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; and when
they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king and their
God, and turn their faces upward; [22] and they will look to the earth, but
behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be
thrust into thick darkness.