A Virgin Will Bear a Son

1-2 During the time that Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem, but the attack sputtered out. When the Davidic government learned that Aram had joined forces with Ephraim (that is, Israel), Ahaz and his people were badly shaken. They shook like trees in the wind.

3-6 Then God told Isaiah, “Go and meet Ahaz. Take your son Shear-jashub (A-Remnant-Will-Return) with you. Meet him south of the city at the end of the aqueduct where it empties into the upper pool on the road to the public laundry. Tell him, Listen, calm down. Don’t be afraid. And don’t panic over these two burnt-out cases, Rezin of Aram and the son of Remaliah. They talk big but there’s nothing to them. Aram, along with Ephraim’s son of Remaliah, have plotted to do you harm. They’ve conspired against you, saying, ‘Let’s go to war against Judah, dismember it, take it for ourselves, and set the son of Tabeel up as a puppet king over it.’

7-9 But God, the Master, says,

“It won’t happen.
    Nothing will come of it
Because the capital of Aram is Damascus
    and the king of Damascus is a mere man, Rezin.
As for Ephraim, in sixty-five years
    it will be rubble, nothing left of it.
The capital of Ephraim is Samaria,
    and the king of Samaria is the mere son of Remaliah.
If you don’t take your stand in faith,
    you won’t have a leg to stand on.”

* * *

10-11 God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, “Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!”

12 But Ahaz said, “I’d never do that. I’d never make demands like that on God!”

13-17 So Isaiah told him, “Then listen to this, government of David! It’s bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you’re making God tired. So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions, the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture. But also be warned: God will bring on you and your people and your government a judgment worse than anything since the time the kingdom split, when Ephraim left Judah. The king of Assyria is coming!”

18-19 That’s when God will whistle for the flies at the headwaters of Egypt’s Nile, and whistle for the bees in the land of Assyria. They’ll come and infest every nook and cranny of this country. There’ll be no getting away from them.

20 And that’s when the Master will take the razor rented from across the Euphrates—the king of Assyria no less!—and shave the hair off your heads and genitals, leaving you shamed, exposed, and denuded. He’ll shave off your beards while he’s at it.

21-22 It will be a time when survivors will count themselves lucky to have a cow and a couple of sheep. At least they’ll have plenty of milk! Whoever’s left in the land will learn to make do with the simplest foods—curds, whey, and honey.

23-25 But that’s not the end of it. This country that used to be covered with fine vineyards—thousands of them, worth millions!—will revert to a weed patch. Weeds and thornbushes everywhere! Good for nothing except, perhaps, hunting rabbits. Cattle and sheep will forage as best they can in the fields of weeds—but there won’t be a trace of all those fertile and well-tended gardens and fields.

* * *

Mensaje a Acaz

Y aconteció que en los días de Acaz, hijo de Jotam, hijo de Uzías, rey de Judá(A), subió Rezín, rey de Aram(B), con Peka, hijo de Remalías(C), rey de Israel, a Jerusalén para combatir contra ella, pero no pudieron tomarla[a](D). Y se dio aviso a la casa de David(E), diciendo: Los arameos han acampado en[b] Efraín(F). Y se estremeció el corazón del rey[c] y el corazón de su pueblo como se estremecen los árboles del bosque ante el viento(G).

Entonces el Señor dijo a Isaías: Sal ahora al encuentro de Acaz, tú, y tu hijo Sear-jasub[d], al extremo del acueducto del estanque superior, en la calzada del campo del Batanero[e](H), y dile: «Estate alerta, y ten calma(I); no temas(J) ni desmaye tu corazón(K) ante estos dos cabos de tizones humeantes(L), a causa de la ira encendida de Rezín de Aram y del hijo de Remalías(M). Porque Aram(N) ha tramado mal contra ti, junto con Efraín y el hijo de Remalías, diciendo: “Subamos contra Judá y aterroricémosla[f], hagamos una brecha en sus murallas[g] y pongamos por rey en medio de ella al hijo de Tabeel”. Por tanto, así dice el Señor Dios[h]: “No prevalecerá ni se cumplirá(O). Porque la cabeza de Aram es Damasco(P), y la cabeza de Damasco es Rezín (y dentro de otros sesenta y cinco años Efraín será destrozado, dejando de ser pueblo), y la cabeza de Efraín es Samaria, y la cabeza de Samaria es el hijo de Remalías. Si no creéis, de cierto no permaneceréis[i](Q)”».

10 El Señor habló de nuevo a Acaz, diciendo: 11 Pide para ti una señal(R) del Señor tu Dios que sea tan profunda como el Seol[j] o tan alta[k] como el cielo[l]. 12 Pero Acaz respondió: No pediré, ni tentaré al Señor. 13 Entonces Isaías dijo: Oíd ahora, casa de David(S): ¿Os parece poco cansar a los hombres(T), que también cansaréis a mi Dios(U)? 14 Por tanto, el Señor mismo os dará una señal: He aquí, una virgen[m] concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y le pondrá por nombre Emmanuel[n](V). 15 Comerá cuajada y miel(W) hasta que sepa lo suficiente[o] para desechar lo malo y escoger lo bueno. 16 Porque antes que el niño sepa desechar lo malo y escoger lo bueno(X), será abandonada la tierra cuyos dos reyes tú temes(Y). 17 El Señor hará venir sobre ti, sobre tu pueblo y sobre la casa de tu padre(Z), días como nunca han venido desde el día en que Efraín se apartó de Judá, es decir, al rey de Asiria(AA). 18 Y sucederá en aquel día que el Señor silbará(AB) a la mosca que está en lo más remoto(AC) de los ríos[p] de Egipto, y a la abeja que está en la tierra de Asiria; 19 y todas ellas vendrán y se posarán en los precipicios de las barrancas[q], en las hendiduras de las peñas(AD), en todos los espinos(AE) y en todos los abrevaderos[r].

20 En aquel día, con navaja(AF) alquilada(AG) en las regiones más allá del Eufrates[s], es decir, con el rey de Asiria(AH), el Señor afeitará(AI) a Israel la cabeza y el pelo de las piernas, y también le quitará la barba.

21 En[t] aquel día cada uno criará una novilla y un par de ovejas(AJ); 22 y[u] por la abundancia de leche que darán, comerá cuajada, porque todo el que quede en[v] la tierra comerá cuajada y miel(AK). 23 En[w] aquel día, en todo lugar donde había mil vides(AL) valoradas en mil siclos de plata, habrá zarzas y espinos(AM). 24 Se irá allá con arcos y flechas, porque toda la tierra será zarzas y espinos. 25 Y en cuanto a todas las colinas que eran cultivadas con la azada, no irás allá por temor de las zarzas y espinos; se convertirán en lugar para soltar[x] los bueyes y para ser hollado por las ovejas(AN).

Footnotes

  1. Isaías 7:1 Lit., pelear contra ella
  2. Isaías 7:2 Lit., Aram se ha asentado sobre
  3. Isaías 7:2 Lit., su corazón
  4. Isaías 7:3 I.e., un remanente volverá
  5. Isaías 7:3 O, Lavandero
  6. Isaías 7:6 Lit., causémosle un terror pánico
  7. Isaías 7:6 Lit., en ella
  8. Isaías 7:7 Heb., YHWH, generalmente traducido Señor
  9. Isaías 7:9 O, seréis afirmados
  10. Isaías 7:11 I.e., región de los muertos
  11. Isaías 7:11 Así en algunas versiones antiguas; en el T.M., haz la petición profunda o alta
  12. Isaías 7:11 Lit., las alturas
  13. Isaías 7:14 O, doncella
  14. Isaías 7:14 I.e., Dios con nosotros
  15. Isaías 7:15 Lit., miel conforme a su conocimiento
  16. Isaías 7:18 I.e., el delta del Nilo
  17. Isaías 7:19 O, de los torrentes
  18. Isaías 7:19 O, pastos
  19. Isaías 7:20 Lit., río
  20. Isaías 7:21 Lit., Y sucederá en
  21. Isaías 7:22 Lit., y sucederá que
  22. Isaías 7:22 Lit., en medio de
  23. Isaías 7:23 Lit., Y sucederá en
  24. Isaías 7:25 Lit., enviar

The Sign of Immanuel

When Ahaz(A) son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin(B) of Aram(C) and Pekah(D) son of Remaliah(E) king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

Now the house of David(F) was told, “Aram has allied itself with[a] Ephraim(G)”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken,(H) as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[b](I) to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.(J) Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm(K) and don’t be afraid.(L) Do not lose heart(M) because of these two smoldering stubs(N) of firewood—because of the fierce anger(O) of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.(P) Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s(Q) son have plotted(R) your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:(S)

“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,(T)
for the head of Aram is Damascus,(U)
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.(V)
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered(W) to be a people.
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,(X)
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand(Y) firm in your faith,(Z)
    you will not stand at all.’”(AA)

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,(AB) whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.(AC)

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.(AD)

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David!(AE) Is it not enough(AF) to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience(AG) of my God(AH) also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign:(AI) The virgin[d](AJ) will conceive and give birth to a son,(AK) and[e] will call him Immanuel.[f](AL) 15 He will be eating curds(AM) and honey(AN) when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows(AO) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,(AP) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.(AQ) 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away(AR) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.(AS)

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

18 In that day(AT) the Lord will whistle(AU) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.(AV) 19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices(AW) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes(AX) and at all the water holes. 20 In that day(AY) the Lord will use(AZ) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River(BA)—the king of Assyria(BB)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard(BC) also.(BD) 21 In that day,(BE) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.(BF) 22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds(BG) and honey.(BH) 23 In that day,(BI) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,[g](BJ) there will be only briers and thorns.(BK) 24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers(BL) and thorns. 25 As for all the hills(BM) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;(BN) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.(BO)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 7:2 Or has set up camp in
  2. Isaiah 7:3 Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return.
  3. Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
  4. Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
  5. Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
  6. Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
  7. Isaiah 7:23 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms