Isaiah 7

1 During the reign of Jotham’s son Ahaz, Uzziah’s grandson, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah’s son Pekah, king of Israel, approached Jerusalem and waged war against it, but they ^{a7:1 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads he} could not mount an attack against it.ISV — Isaiah 7:1

2 When it was reported to the house of David, “Aram has joined forces with Ephraim!” the ^{b7:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read his} heart of the people of Ahaz ^{c7:2 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read his heart and the heart of his people} trembled like forest ^{d7:2 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks forest} trees in a windstorm.ISV — Isaiah 7:2

3 So the LORD told Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool that proceeds along the highway to Launderer’s Field.ISV — Isaiah 7:3

4 Tell him, ‘Be careful, be calm, don’t be afraid, and don’t lose heart because of these two smoldering stumps of torches, that is, because of ^{e7:4 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks because of} the fierce anger of Rezin, from Aram, and Remaliah’s son.ISV — Isaiah 7:4

5 Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son have plotted this evil against you:ISV — Isaiah 7:5

6 “Let’s go attack Judah, let’s terrorize it, and let’s conquer it for ourselves. Then we’ll install Tabeel’s son as king!”’ISV — Isaiah 7:6

7 ‘But this is what the Lord GOD has to say: “‘It won’t take place. It won’t ever happen.ISV — Isaiah 7:7

8 Because Aram’s head is Damascus, and Rezin is its king, ^{f7:8 Lit. is head of Damascus} within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.ISV — Isaiah 7:8

9 Furthermore, Ephraim’s head is Samaria, and Remaliah’s son is its king. ^{g7:9 Lit. is head of Samaria} If all of you don’t keep on believing, you’ll never remain loyal.’” ^{h7:9 Or never keep on enduring}ISV — Isaiah 7:9

10 Later on, the LORD spoke to Ahaz again:ISV — Isaiah 7:10

11 “Ask a sign from the LORD your God. Make it as deep as Sheol ^{i7:11 i.e. the realm of the dead} or as high as heaven above.”ISV — Isaiah 7:11

12 But Ahaz replied, “I won’t ask! I won’t put the LORD to the test.”ISV — Isaiah 7:12

13 In reply, the LORD ^{j7:13 Lit. reply, he} announced, “Please listen, you household of David. Is it such a minor thing for you to try the patience of ^{k7:13 Lit. to wear out} men? Must you also try the patience of ^{l7:13 Lit. also wear out} my God?ISV — Isaiah 7:13

14 “Therefore the LORD ^{m7:14 So 1QIsaa; MT reads Lord} himself will give you a sign. Watch! The virgin ^{n7:14 So LXX; 1QIsaa MT read The young woman} is conceiving a child, and will give birth to a son, and his name will be called ^{o7:14 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read she will name him; MT alt. reading and you will name him} Immanuel. ^{p7:14 The Heb. name Immanuel means God with us}ISV — Isaiah 7:14

15 He’ll eat cheese ^{q7:15 Or curds} and honey, when he knows enough to reject what’s wrong and choose what’s right.ISV — Isaiah 7:15

16 However, before the youth knows enough to reject what’s wrong and choose what’s right, the land whose two kings you dread will be devastated.”ISV — Isaiah 7:16

17 “The LORD will bring to you, to your people, and to your ancestor’s house such a time ^{r7:17 Lit. such days} as has never been since Ephraim broke away from Judah—the king of Assyria will come. ^{s7:17 1QIsaa MT lack will come}ISV — Isaiah 7:17

18 “At that time, ^{t7:18 Lit. On that day} the LORD will call ^{u7:18 Lit. whistle} for flies that will come from far away—from the headwaters of Egypt’s rivers—and for bees that are in the land of Assyria.ISV — Isaiah 7:18

19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines, in the rocky crevices, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the pastures. ^{v7:19 Or the watering places}ISV — Isaiah 7:19

20 At that time, ^{w7:20 Lit. On that day} the LORD will hire a barber ^{x7:20 Lit. razor} to come ^{y7:20 1QIsaa MT lack to come} from beyond the Euphrates ^{z7:20 1QIsaa MT lack Euphrates} River—that is, the king of Assyria—and he will shave your heads, your leg ^{aa7:20 Or feet} hair, and your beards, too.ISV — Isaiah 7:20

21 “At that time, ^{bb7:21 Lit. On that day} a man will keep alive a heifer and two sheep,ISV — Isaiah 7:21

22 and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will have cheese ^{cc7:22 Or curds} to eat, since whoever remains in the land will be eating cheese ^{dd7:22 Or curds} and honey.ISV — Isaiah 7:22

23 “At that time, ^{ee7:23 Lit. On that day} every place where once there were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels ^{ff7:23 i.e. about 400 ounces; a shekel weighed about 0.4 ounces} of silver, only briars and thorns will grow.ISV — Isaiah 7:23

24 “People will come there armed with bows ^{gg7:24 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read bow} and arrows, because the entire land will be nothing but briers and thorns.ISV — Isaiah 7:24

25 As for all the hills that used to be cultivated with a hoe, you won’t go there, because you’ll fear iron ^{hh7:25 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX lack iron} briars and thorns. Nevertheless, those hills ^{ii7:25 Lit. but they} will be reserved as a pasture where cattle will feed and where sheep will graze.” ^{jj7:25 Lit. tread}ISV — Isaiah 7:25