12. But Ahaz said, “I will not ask for a sign or test the Lord.”
13. Then Isaiah said, “Ahaz, descendant of David, listen carefully! Isn’t it bad enough that you wear out the patience of people? Do you also have to wear out the patience of my God?
14. The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and she will name him Immanuel.
15. He will be eating milk curds and honey when he learns to reject what is evil and to choose what is good.
16. You are afraid of the kings of Israel and Aram now. But before the child learns to choose good and reject evil, the lands of Israel and Aram will be empty.
17. The Lord will bring troubled times to you, your people, and to the people of your father’s family. They will be worse than anything that has happened since Israel separated from Judah. The Lord will bring the king of Assyria to fight against you.
18. “At that time the Lord will whistle for the Egyptians, and they will come like flies from Egypt’s faraway streams. He will call for the Assyrians, and they will come like bees.
19. These enemies will camp in the deep ravines and in the cliffs, by the thornbushes and watering holes.
20. The Lord will hire Assyria and use it like a razor to punish Judah. It will be as if the Lord is shaving the hair from Judah’s head and legs and removing Judah’s beard.