The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 8
The Ruin of the Kingdoms of Israel and Syria
1 Then the Lord said to me, "Take a large scroll and write on it in a human hand: 'He hastened to the spoil, he hastened to the prey.'"
2 Then I took with me faithful witnesses: Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.
3 So I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. The Lord said to me, "Call his name Maher Shalal-hash-baz."
4 For before the boy can tell who my father or my mother is, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried off before the king of Assyria.
5 And the Lord spoke to me again, saying:
6 Because this people has despised the waters of Shiloah, which flow gently, and has rejoiced over Rezin and the son of Remaliah;
7 Behold, the Lord will bring upon them the waters of the river, strong and rushing, the king of Assyria in all his glory; and it will rise above all its channels and overflow all its banks.
8 And it will pass over Judah, overflowing it, and it will reach even to the neck; and the spreading of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.
9 Be tumultuous, O peoples, and you will be broken in pieces; give ear, all you who are from far countries: gird yourselves, and you will be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you will be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, and it will be destroyed; speak the word, and it will not stand, for God is with us.
11 For thus the Lord spoke to me with a strong hand, and taught me not to walk in the way of this people, saying:
12 Do not call a conspiracy all that this people calls a conspiracy; and do not fear their fear, nor be dismayed.
13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 Then he will be your sanctuary; but he will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel, a snare and a net to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many of them will stumble and fall, and will be broken, and snared, and taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait for the Lord, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and for him I will hope.
18 Here I am, with the children whom the Lord has given me, as signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
19 When they say to you, "Consult those who have familiar spirits and mediums who whisper and mutter," will not a people seek their God? Will the dead inquire on behalf of the living?
20 To the Law and the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there is no dawn.
21 And they will pass through the land, hard-pressed and hungry. And it will come to pass, when they are hungry and angry, that they will curse their king and their God, looking up.
22 And they shall look toward the earth, and, behold, there shall be distress and darkness, and they shall be darkened with anguish, and driven into darkness.