Isaiah 8

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

And the LORD passionately instructed me, "Grab a large scroll and with a human touch, write about Mahershalalhashbaz."

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

I chose trustworthy witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah, Jeberechiah's son, to document everything.

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

I approached the prophetess, and she became pregnant, giving birth to a son. Then, the LORD instructed me, "Name him Mahershalalhashbaz."

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 even learns to call out for their parents, the wealth of Damascus and the treasures of Samaria will be seized by the king of Assyria.

The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,

Once again, the Lord shared His words with me, expressing,

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

This community rejects the gentle flow of Shiloah's waters, instead choosing to celebrate Rezin and Remaliah's son.

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:

See now, the Lord is unleashing a powerful, overwhelming river upon them - the mighty king of Assyria with all his splendor. He will overflow beyond his boundaries, covering everything in his path.

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 journey through Judah, flooding it until it's submerged up to the neck. His influence will spread across your land, Immanuel, like a bird stretching its wings wide.

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.

Band together, you nations, and you will be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands: arm yourselves for battle, and you will be shattered; arm yourselves, and you will be shattered!

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

Plan together, but it will fail; say what you will, but it won't happen, because God is on our side.

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,

With a firm and loving touch, the LORD spoke to me. He guided me, urging me not to follow the path of these people.

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 call everything a conspiracy just because these people call it one; don't fear what they fear, and don't let it make you afraid.

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

Honor the Lord with all your heart; let Him be the one you respect and the one you fear.

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 safe haven, yet a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip on for both kingdoms of Israel, a trap and a snare for those living in Jerusalem.

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

Many will trip, fall, shatter, get trapped, and be captured.

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

Secure the teachings, imprint my laws in the hearts of my followers.

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 trust in the Lord, who is hiding his face from the people of Jacob, and I will continue to seek him.

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 children God has given me are signs and wonders for our people, sent from the Lord of all, who lives on Mount Zion.

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?

When people tell you to consult those who claim to communicate with spirits or whispering wizards, ask yourself: shouldn't we instead seek guidance from our God? Why turn to the dead when we can turn to the living God?

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

Respect the law and the teachings. If their words don't align with these truths, it's because they lack spiritual enlightenment.

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.

As they wander through the land, worn down and hungry, they'll reach a point of desperation. In their hunger, they'll become enraged and curse their king and their God, looking upward.

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

They will gaze upon the world, seeing only chaos and shadows, a haze of despair. They will find themselves lost in this darkness.