Isaiah 8

Damascus and Samaria Fall

8THEN THE Lord said to me, Take a large tablet [of wood, metal, or stone] and write upon it with a graving tool {and} in ordinary characters [which the humblest man can read]: Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz [they (the Assyrians) hasten to the spoil (of Syria and Israel), they speed to the prey].H3068H559H3947H1419H1549H3789H582H2747H41222And I took faithful witnesses to record {and} attest [this prophecy] for me, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.H5749H539H5707H5749H223H3548H2148H1121H30003And I approached [my wife] the prophetess, and when she had conceived and borne a son, the Lord said to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz [as a continual reminder to the people of the prophecy],H7126H5031H2029H3205H1121H559H3068H7121H8034H41224For before the child knows how to say, My father or my mother, the riches of Damascus [Syria's capital] and the spoil of Samaria [Israel's capital] shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.H5288H3045H7121H1H517H2428H1834H7998H8111H5375H6440H4428H8045The Lord spoke to me yet again and said,H3068H1696H3254H5596Because this people [Israel and Judah] have refused {and} despised the waters of Shiloah [Siloam, the only perennial fountain of Jerusalem, and symbolic of God's protection and sustaining power] that go gently, and rejoice in {and} with Rezin [the king of Syria] and Remaliah's son [Pekah the king of Israel],H3282H5971H3988H4325H7975H1980H328H4885H7526H7425H11217Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the waters of the River [Euphrates], strong and many--even the king of Assyria and all the glory [of his gorgeous retinue]; and it will rise over all its channels, brooks, valleys, {and} canals and extend far beyond its banks;H136H5927H4325H5104H6099H7227H4428H804H3519H5927H650H1980H14158And it will sweep on into Judah; it will overflow {and} go over [the hills], reaching even [but only] to the neck [of which Jerusalem is the head], and the outstretched wings [of the armies of Assyria] shall fill the breadth of Your land, O Immanuel [Messiah, God is with us]!H2498H3063H7857H5674H5060H6677H4298H3671H4393H7341H776H6005H410

A Believing Remnant

9Make an uproar {and} be broken in pieces, O you peoples [rage, raise the war cry, do your worst, and be utterly dismayed]! Give ear, all you [our enemies] {of} far countries. Gird yourselves [for war], and be thrown into consternation! Gird yourselves, and be [utterly] dismayed!H7489H5971H2865H238H3605H4801H776H247H2865H247H286510Take counsel together [against Judah], but it shall come to nought; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us [Immanuel]!H5779H6098H5779H6565H1696H1697H6965H41011For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned {and} instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,H3068H559H2393H3027H3256H3212H1870H5971H55912Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.H559H7195H5971H559H7195H3372H4172H620613The Lord of hosts--regard Him as holy {and} honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].H6942H3068H6635H4172H620614And He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him]; but He shall be a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.H4720H68H5063H6697H4383H8147H1004H3478H6341H4170H3427H338915And many among them shall stumble thereon; and they shall fall and be broken, and be snared and taken.H7227H3782H5307H7665H3369H392016Bind up the testimony, seal the law {and} the teaching among my [Isaiah's] disciples.H6887H8584H2856H8451H392817And I will wait for the Lord, Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; and I will look for {and} hope in Him.H2442H3068H5641H6440H1004H3290H696018Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and wonders [that are to take place] in Israel from the Lord of hosts, Who dwells on Mount Zion.H3206H3068H5414H226H4159H3478H3068H6635H7931H2022H672619And when the people [instead of putting their trust in God] shall say to you, Consult for direction mediums and wizards who chirp and mutter, should not a people seek {and} consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?H559H1875H178H3049H6850H1897H5971H1875H430H2416H419120[Direct such people] to the teaching and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is surely because there is no dawn {and} no morning for them.H8451H8584H559H1697H783721And they [who consult mediums and wizards] shall pass through [the land] sorely distressed and hungry; and when they are hungry, they will fret, and will curse by their king and their God; and whether they look upwardH5674H7185H7457H7456H7107H7043H4428H430H6437H460522Or look to the earth, they will behold only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and into thick darkness {and} widespread, obscure night they shall be driven away.H5027H776H6869H2825H4588H6695H5080H653