Isaiah 8

The LORD instructs Isaiah to write on a great tablet the name Mahershalalhashbaz, and Isaiah's wife bears a son by that name as a sign that Assyria will plunder Damascus and Samaria. Isaiah warns the people not to fear man but to sanctify the LORD as their fear. He and his children are for signs and wonders in Israel.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.	The LORD said to me, "Take a large scroll and write on it in common script: Mahershalalhashbaz."
2	And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.	I had it witnessed by Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, reliable witnesses.
3	And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.	I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. The LORD said to me, "Call His name Mahershalalhashbaz.
4	For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.	For before the boy knows how to say 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria shall be carried off before the king of Assyria."
5	The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,	The LORD spoke to me again, saying,
6	Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;	"Because this people has rejected the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah,
7	Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:	therefore the Lord is about to bring up against them the waters of the River — mighty and many — the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will rise over all its channels and overflow all its banks.
8	And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.	It shall sweep on into Judah, overflow, and pass through. It shall reach even to the neck, and its outspread wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel."
9	Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.	Band together, O peoples, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered!
10	Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.	Devise a plan — it will come to nothing. State your case — it will not stand. For God is with us.
11	For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,	For the LORD spoke to me with a strong hand and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,
12	Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.	"Do not call 'conspiracy' everything this people calls a conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
13	Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.	The LORD of hosts — regard Him as holy. Let Him be Your fear and Your dread.
14	And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.	He will be a sanctuary, but also a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel — a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15	And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.	Many shall stumble over it; they shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken."
16	Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.	Bind up the testimony; seal the law among my disciples.
17	And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.	I will wait for the LORD, Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.
18	Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.	I and the children the LORD has given me are signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
19	And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?	When they say to You, "Seek those who have familiar spirits, and wizards that peep and mutter" — should not a people seek their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
20	To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.	To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21	And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.	They shall roam through the land, distressed and starving. When they are hungry, they will grow angry and curse their king and their God, looking upward.
22	And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.	They shall look to the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They are driven into thick darkness.