1. The Lord said to me, “Take a large writing tablet, and write on it with a pen: ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz’ [The Looting Will Come Quickly; the Prey Will Be Easy].
2. I will have these dependable witnesses testify: the priest Uriah and Zechariah (son of Jeberechiah).”
3. I slept with the prophet. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. The Lord told me, “Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz.
4. Before the boy knows how to say ‘Daddy’ or ‘Mommy,’ the wealth of Damascus and the loot from Samaria will be carried away to th e king of Assyria.”
5. The Lord spoke to me again. He said,
6. “These people have rejected the gently flowing water of Shiloahand find joy in Rezin and Remaliah’s son.”
7. That is why the Lord is going to bring against themthe raging and powerful floodwaters of the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria with all his power.It will overflow all its channels and go over all its banks.
8. It will sweep through Judah.It will overflow and pass through; it will be neck-high.Its outspread wings will extend over your whole country, O Immanuel.
9. Be broken, you people. Be terrified.Listen, all you distant parts of the earth.Prepare for battle, but be terrified.Prepare for battle, but be terrified.
10. Make plans for battle, but they will never succeed.Give orders, but they won’t be carried out,because God is with us!
11. This is what the Lord said with his powerful hand on me.He warned me not to follow the ways of these people: