Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 8

1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.

*Additionally, the Lord told me to get a large scroll and write on it using a regular pen about Mahershalalhashbaz.

2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

*I chose two trustworthy witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah, son of Jeberechiah, to keep a record.

3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

*I visited the prophetess, and she became pregnant, having a son. The Lord told me to name him Mahershalalhashbaz.

4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

*Before a child can cry for help, my father and mother, the wealth of Damascus and the treasures of Samaria will be taken by the king of Assyria.

5 The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,

*The Lord spoke to me again, saying,

6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;

*Because these people refuse the gentle water of Shiloah and are happy with Rezin and Remaliah's son.

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

*Now, see, the Lord is bringing the powerful waters of the river, along with the king of Assyria and his great army. They will cover all his territories and move across all his borders.

8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

*He will travel through Judah, spreading far and wide, reaching up to your neck. His wings will stretch across the entire land, Immanuel.

9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

*Come together, everyone, and you will be shattered; listen, people from far away lands, tie yourselves together and you will be shattered too.

10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

*Work together on plans, they will fail; say words, they won't last: God is by our side.

11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

*The LORD spoke to me forcefully and taught me not to follow the path of these people, saying,

12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

*Don't tell everyone that a group is joining together with these people just because they say so. Also, don't be scared by their fears and don't be afraid yourself.

13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

*Set the Lord, the ruler of armies, apart as holy; and let him be the one you fear and the one you respect greatly.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

*He will be a place of safety, but a cause of tripping and a source of anger to both parts of Israel. He will also be a trap and a snare for the people living in Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

*Many will trip, fall, break, get trapped, and be captured.

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

*Gather the evidence, lock the teachings within my followers.

17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

*I will patiently wait for God, who seems to be hiding his presence from the people of Jacob, and I will search for him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

*Look, I and the kids that the LORD has given me are signs and wonders in Israel, coming from the GOD of armies who lives on Mount Zion.

19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

*And when they tell you to consult mediums and wizards who mumble, shouldn't a people turn to their God instead? for the living to the dead?

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

*To the law and to the truth: if they don't follow this teaching, it's because they have no understanding.

21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

*They will go through a difficult time, struggling and hungry. When they are hungry, they will become upset, curse their king and God, and look upwards.

22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

*People will look at the earth and see problems and sadness, deep pain; they will be pushed into darkness.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes