1 The Lord said to me, "Get a large scroll. Write 'Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz' on it with a pen.
2 I will send for Zechariah and the priest Uriah. They can be trusted. They will be witnesses for me. Zechariah is the son of Jeberekiah."
3 Then I went and made love to my wife, who was a prophet. She became pregnant and had a baby boy. The Lord said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.
4 "The king of Assyria will carry off the wealth of Damascus. He will also carry away the goods that were taken from Samaria. That will happen before the boy knows how to say 'My father' or 'My mother.' "
5 The Lord continued,
6 "I am like the gently flowing stream of Siloam. But the people of Judah have turned their backs on me. They are filled with joy because of the fall of Rezin and the son of Remaliah.
7 So I am about to bring against these people the king of Assyria and his whole army. The Assyrians will be like the mighty Euphrates River when it is flooding. They will run over everything in their path.
8 They will sweep on into Judah like a flood. They will pass through Judah and reach all the way to Jerusalem. Immanuel, they will attack your land like an eagle. Their wings will spread out and cover it."
9 Sound the battle cry, you nations! But you will be torn apart. Listen, all of you lands far away! Prepare for battle! But you will be torn apart. Prepare for battle! But you will be torn apart.
10 Make your battle plans! But you won't succeed. Give your orders! But they won't be carried out. That's because God is with us.
11 The Lord put his powerful hand on me and spoke to me. He warned me not to live the way these people live. He said,
12 "People of Judah, do not agree with those who say Isaiah is guilty of treason. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be afraid.
13 I am the Lord who rules over all. You must think about me as holy. You must have respect for me. You must fear me.
14 Then I will be a holy place of safety for you. But for many people in Israel and Judah I will be a stone that causes them to trip. I will be a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem I will be a trap and a snare.
15 Many of them will trip. They will fall and be broken. They will be trapped and captured."
16 Keep safe what the Lord said to you through me. Seal up among my followers what he taught you through me.
17 I will wait for the Lord. He is turning his face away from Jacob's people. I will put my trust in him.
18 Here I am. Here are the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and reminders to Israel from the Lord who rules over all. He lives on Mount Zion.
19 Some will tell you to ask for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Others will tell you to ask for advice from people who talk to the spirits of the dead. But those people only whisper. Their words are barely heard. So shouldn't you ask for advice from your God? Why should you get advice from dead people to help those who are alive?
20 Follow what the Lord taught you and said to you through me. People who don't speak in keeping with those words won't have any hope in the morning.
21 They will suffer and be hungry. They'll wander through the land. When they are very hungry, they will become angry. They'll look up toward heaven. They'll call down curses on their king and their God.