Isaiah 8:1-10

New International Reader's Version

Isaiah and His Children Are Signs

8 The Lord said to me, “Get a large sheet of paper. Write ‘Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz’ on it with a pen.” ²So I sent for Zechariah and Uriah the priest. Zechariah is the son of Jeberekiah. Zechariah and Uriah were witnesses for me whom I could trust. ³Then I went and slept with my wife, who was a prophet. She became pregnant and had a baby boy. The Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. ⁴The king of Assyria will carry off the wealth of Damascus. He will also carry away the goods that were taken from Samaria. That will happen before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother.’ ”

⁵The Lord continued,

⁶“I am like the gently flowing stream of Siloam.
    But the people of Judah have turned their backs on me.
They are filled with joy because of the fall of Rezin
    and the son of Remaliah.
⁷So I am about to bring against these people
    the king of Assyria and his whole army.
The Assyrians will be like the mighty Euphrates River
    when it is flooding.
    They will run over everything in their path.
⁸They will sweep on into Judah like a flood.
    They will pass through Judah and reach all the way to Jerusalem.
Immanuel, they will attack your land like an eagle.
    Their wings will spread out and cover it.”

⁹Sound the battle cry, you nations!
    But you will be torn apart.
    Listen, all you lands far away!
Prepare for battle! But you will be torn apart.
    Prepare for battle! But you will be torn apart.
¹⁰Make your battle plans! But you won’t succeed.
    Give your orders! But they won’t be carried out.
    That’s because God is with us.