Isaiah 7

1In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but they could not conquer it.

2When the house of David was told, “Aram has encamped in Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

3Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the channel of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.

4Say to him, ‘Be careful and keep calm. Do not be afraid, and do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah.

5Because Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted evil against you, saying,

6“Let us go up against Judah, terrify it, break it open for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in it,”

7this is what the Lord Yahweh says: It will not stand; it will not happen.

8For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered and will no longer be a people.

9The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in faith, you will not stand firm at all.’”

10Again Yahweh spoke to Ahaz:

11“Ask Yahweh your God for a sign, whether in the depths below or in the heights above.”

12But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put Yahweh to the test.”

13Then Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my God?

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel.

15He will eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to reject the wrong and choose the right.

16For before the boy knows how to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be deserted.

17Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house days such as have not come since the day Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.

18On that day Yahweh will whistle for the flies at the far ends of the streams of Egypt and for the bees in the land of Assyria.

19They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the clefts of the rocks, on all the thornbushes and in all the watering places.

20On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and it will sweep away your beard as well.

21On that day a person will keep alive a young cow and two sheep,

22and because of the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for everyone left in the land will eat curds and honey.

23On that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines worth a thousand pieces of silver will be overgrown with briers and thorns.

24People will go there with bow and arrows, for all the land will be briers and thorns.

25As for all the hills that used to be worked with a hoe, you will not go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become a place where cattle are turned loose and sheep trample.”