Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Isaiah 7
King Ahaz Faces Fear
In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, marched up to wage war against Jerusalem, but could not overcome it. When the house of David was told, “Aram has joined Ephraim,” the king’s heart and his people’s hearts shook like forest trees shaking in the wind.
The LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the upper pool’s channel, by the road to the washer’s field. Tell him: ‘Take care and stay calm. Do not fear; do not lose heart before these two smoking stubs of firewood—before the burning anger of Rezin and Aram and Remaliah’s son.
Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son have plotted harm against you, saying,
“Let us invade Judah, terrify it, and break it open for ourselves. We will install Tabeel’s son as king there.”
But the Lord GOD says:
“It will not stand.
It will not happen.
Aram’s head is Damascus,
and Damascus’s head is Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.
Ephraim’s head is Samaria,
and Samaria’s head is Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in faith,
you will not stand firm at all.”’”
The LORD Offers a Sign
The LORD spoke to Ahaz again: “Ask the LORD your God for a sign—make your request as deep as you wish or as high as the heights.” Ahaz answered, “I will not ask. I will not put the LORD to the test.”
Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough to weary people? Must you weary my God too? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is pregnant and will bear a son. And you will name him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows to reject evil and choose good. Before the boy knows to reject evil and choose good, the land whose two kings terrify you will be abandoned. The LORD will bring upon you, your people, and your father’s house days unlike any since Ephraim separated from Judah—the king of Assyria!”
What Comes Like a Flood
On that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the farthest channels of Egypt and bees from Assyria. They will all come and settle in steep ravines, rock crevices, every thornbush, and every watering place.
On that day the Lord will use a razor hired beyond the River—the king of Assyria—to shave the head and the hair of the legs, and sweep away the beard as well.
On that day a person will keep alive one young cow and two sheep. Their abundant milk will provide curds to eat. Everyone left in the land will eat curds and honey.
On that day every place where a thousand vines stood, worth a thousand pieces of silver, will become thorns and briers. People will go there with bow and arrows, for the whole land will be thorns and briers. As for all the hills once worked with a hoe, you will not go there for fear of thorns and briers. They will become places for cattle to roam and sheep to trample.