1. The Lord said to me, ‘Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.’
2. So I called in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me.
3. Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, ‘Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
4. For before the boy knows how to say “My father” or “My mother”, the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.’
5. The Lord spoke to me again:
6. ‘Because this people has rejectedthe gently flowing waters of Shiloahand rejoices over Rezinand the son of Remaliah,
7. therefore the Lord is about to bring against themthe mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates –the king of Assyria with all his pomp.It will overflow all its channels,run over all its banks
8. and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it,passing through it and reaching up to the neck.Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land,Immanuel!’
9. Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered!Listen, all you distant lands.Prepare for battle, and be shattered!Prepare for battle, and be shattered!
10. Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted;propose your plan, but it will not stand,for God is with us.
11. This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
12. ‘Do not call conspiracyeverything this people calls a conspiracy;do not fear what they fear,and do not dread it.