Isaiah 7
Open in the reader1Now in the days that He-Has-Grasped son of He-Who-Is-Perfect, the son of Strength-of-He-Who-Is, was king of Praised, Delightful king of Highland marched up to wage war against Foundation-of-Peace. He was accompanied by Watch son of He-Who-Is-Has-Adorned the king of Strives-with-God, but he could not overpower the city.
2When it was reported to the house of Beloved that Highland was in league with Double-Fruit, the hearts of He-Has-Grasped and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.
3Then He-Who-Is said to Salvation-of-He-Who-Is, “Go out with your son A-Remnant-Shall-Return to meet He-Has-Grasped at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,
4and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Delightful and Highland and of the son of He-Who-Is-Has-Adorned.
5For Highland, along with Double-Fruit and the son of He-Who-Is-Has-Adorned, has plotted your ruin, saying:
6‘Let us invade Praised, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’
7But this is what the Lord He-Who-Is says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.
8For the head of Highland is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Delightful. Within sixty-five years Double-Fruit will be shattered as a people.
9The head of Double-Fruit is Watch-Mountain, and the head of Watch-Mountain is the son of He-Who-Is-Has-Adorned. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”
10Again He-Who-Is spoke to He-Has-Grasped, saying,
11“Ask for a sign from He-Who-Is your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.”
12But He-Has-Grasped replied, “I will not ask; I will not test He-Who-Is.”
13Then He-Who-Is-Saves said, “Hear now, O house of Beloved! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?
14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him God-With-Us.
15By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.
16For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
17He-Who-Is will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Double-Fruit separated from Praised—He will bring the king of Successful.”
18On that day He-Who-Is will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Successful.
19And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes.
20On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Rushing —the king of Successful—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.
21On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep,
22and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.
23And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found.
24Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.
25For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample.