Isaiah 8

1 The Lord said to me, “Take a large new scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Spoil Quickly, Plunder Speedily, for it is near.” [a] 2 “‘Call faithful men as my witnesses: Uriah and Zechariah son of Berechiah.’” 3 I went in to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. The Lord said to me, “Name him Spoil Quickly, Plunder Speedily.” 4 “Before the child knows how to call for his father or mother, Damascus’s power and Samaria’s plunder will be carried away before the king of Assyria.” † † 5 The Lord spoke to me again:

6 “‘Because this people rejected Siloam’s gently flowing water and wanted Rezin and Remaliah’s son to reign over you,’” 7 “‘look, the Lord is bringing against you the river’s strong, abundant waters—the king of Assyria and his glory. He will overflow every valley and pass over every wall.’” 8 “He will take away from Judah everyone able to lift his head or accomplish anything, and his camp will fill the breadth of your land. God is with us.” 9 “Know this, nations, and be conquered. Listen, even to the ends of the earth. You who are strong, be conquered; for if you grow strong again, you will be conquered again.” 10 “Whatever counsel you devise, the Lord will bring it to nothing. Whatever word you speak will not stand among you, because the Lord God is with us.”

11 “This is what the Lord said when they turned away from this people’s course with a strong hand:” 12 “‘Do not say, “It is hard,” for whatever this people says is hard. Do not fear what they fear or be dismayed.’” 13 “‘Regard the Lord himself as holy, and let him be the one you fear.’” 14 “‘If you trust him, he will be a sanctuary for you. You will not approach him as a stumbling stone or falling rock, but the house of Jacob will be caught in a snare, and Jerusalem’s residents in a pit.’” 15 Many among them will grow weak, fall, and be crushed. They will draw near, and people living in safety will be captured.

16 Then those who seal up the law so they will not learn it will be exposed. 17 “Someone will say, ‘I will wait for God, who has turned his face away from Jacob’s house, and I will trust him.’” 18 “Look, I and the children God has given me will serve as signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of armies, who lives on Mount Zion.” 19 If they tell you, ‘Consult those who have a divining spirit, those who speak from the earth, utter empty words, and speak from their bellies,’ should a nation not seek its God? Why do they seek the dead about the living? 20 He gave the law as help, so they should not speak according to this word, for which no gifts can be given.

21 A severe famine will come on you. When you are hungry, you will grieve and speak evil of the ruler and the idols. Then they will look up toward heaven above, [b] 22 They will look down at the earth and see affliction, distress, darkness, narrow anguish, and darkness so deep they cannot see.