²² All this took place to fulfill^(A) what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[a](B) (which means “God with us”).

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days John the Baptist^(B) came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(C) has come near.”

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

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

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David!^(D) Is it not enough^(E) to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience^(F) of my God^(G) also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you^[a] a sign:^(H) The virgin^[b](I) will conceive and give birth to a son,^(J) and^[c] will call him Immanuel.^{[d](K) 15} He will be eating curds^(L) and honey^(M) when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, ¹⁶ for before the boy knows^(N) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,^(O) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.^{(P) 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^(Q) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.^(R)”

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

¹⁸ In that day^(S) the Lord will whistle^(T) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.^{(U) 19} They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices^(V) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes^(W) and at all the water holes. ²⁰ In that day^(X) the Lord will use^(Y) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River^(Z)—the king of Assyria^(AA)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard^(AB) also.^{(AC) 21} In that day,^(AD) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.^{(AE) 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^(AF) and honey.^{(AG) 23} In that day,^(AH) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,^[e](AI) there will be only briers and thorns.^{(AJ) 24} Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers^(AK) and thorns. ²⁵ As for all the hills^(AL) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;^(AM) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.^(AN)

¹⁴ The Word became flesh^(A) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,^(B) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace^(C) and truth.^(D)

²² Consider therefore the kindness^(A) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(B) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^(C)

³¹ It is a dreadful thing^(A) to fall into the hands^(B) of the living God.^(C)

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(A) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(B) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[a](C)