| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1During the reign of Jotham's son Ahaz, Uzziah's grandson, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah's son Pekah, king of Israel, approached Jerusalem and waged war against it, but they could not mount an attack against it. | 1During the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to do battle, but they were unable to prevail against it. |
| 2When it was reported to the house of David, "Aram has joined forces with Ephraim!" the heart of the people of Ahaz trembled like forest trees in a windstorm. | 2It was reported to the family of David, "Syria has allied with Ephraim." They and their people were emotionally shaken, just as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. |
| 3So the LORD told Isaiah, "Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool that proceeds along the highway to Launderer's Field. | 3So the LORD told Isaiah, "Go out with your son Shear-jashub and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth. |
| 4Tell him, 'Be careful, be calm, don't be afraid, and don't lose heart because of these two smoldering stumps of torches, that is, because of the fierce anger of Rezin, from Aram, and Remaliah's son. | 4Tell him, 'Make sure you stay calm! Don't be afraid! Don't be intimidated by these two stubs of smoking logs, or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah. |
| 5Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliah's son have plotted this evil against you: | 5Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise. |
| 6"Let's go attack Judah, let's terrorize it, and let's conquer it for ourselves. Then we'll install Tabeel's son as king!"' | 6They say, "Let's attack Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it. Then we'll set up the son of Tabeel as its king." |
| 7But this is what the Lord GOD has to say: "'It won't take place. It won't ever happen. | 7For this reason the sovereign master, the LORD, says: "It will not take place; it will not happen. |
| 8Because Aram's head is Damascus, and Rezin is its king, within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people. | 8For Syria's leader is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will no longer exist as a nation. |
| 9Furthermore, Ephraim's head is Samaria, and Remaliah's son is its king. If all of you don't keep on believing, you'll never remain loyal.'" | 9Ephraim's leader is Samaria, and Samaria's leader is the son of Remaliah. If your faith does not remain firm, then you will not remain secure." |
| 10Later on, the LORD spoke to Ahaz again: | 10The LORD again spoke to Ahaz: |
| 11"Ask a sign from the LORD your God. Make it as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven above." | 11"Ask for a confirming sign from the LORD your God. You can even ask for something miraculous." |
| 12But Ahaz replied, "I won't ask! I won't put the LORD to the test." | 12But Ahaz responded, "I don't want to ask; I don't want to put the LORD to a test." |
| 13In reply, the LORD announced, "Please listen, you household of David. Is it such a minor thing for you to try the patience of men? Must you also try the patience of my God? | 13So Isaiah replied, "Pay attention, family of David. Do you consider it too insignificant to try the patience of men? Is that why you are also trying the patience of my God? |
| 14"Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Watch! The virgin is conceiving a child, and will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel. | 14For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel. |
| 15He'll eat cheese and honey, when he knows enough to reject what's wrong and choose what's right. | 15He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right. |
| 16However, before the youth knows enough to reject what's wrong and choose what's right, the land whose two kings you dread will be devastated." | 16Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate. |
| 17"The LORD will bring to you, to your people, and to your ancestor's house such a time as has never been since Ephraim broke away from Judah—the king of Assyria will come. | 17The LORD will bring on you, your people, and your father's family a time unlike any since Ephraim departed from Judah--the king of Assyria!" |
| 18"At that time, the LORD will call for flies that will come from far away—from the headwaters of Egypt's rivers—and for bees that are in the land of Assyria. | 18At that time the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. |
| 19They will all come and settle in the steep ravines, in the rocky crevices, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the pastures. | 19All of them will come and make their home in the ravines between the cliffs, and in the crevices of the cliffs, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the watering holes. |
| 20At that time, the LORD will hire a barber to come from beyond the Euphrates River—that is, the king of Assyria—and he will shave your heads, your leg hair, and your beards, too. | 20At that time the sovereign master will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the head and the pubic hair; it will also shave off the beard. |
| 21"At that time, a man will keep alive a heifer and two sheep, | 21At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats. |
| 22and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will have cheese to eat, since whoever remains in the land will be eating cheese and honey. | 22From the abundance of milk they produce, he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey. |
| 23"At that time, every place where once there were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briars and thorns will grow. | 23At that time every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun with thorns and briers. |
| 24"People will come there armed with bows and arrows, because the entire land will be nothing but briers and thorns. | 24With bow and arrow men will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers. |
| 25As for all the hills that used to be cultivated with a hoe, you won't go there, because you'll fear iron briars and thorns. Nevertheless, those hills will be reserved as a pasture where cattle will feed and where sheep will graze." | 25They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them. |
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