A Message to Ahaz

1  וַיְהִ֡י (And it came to pass) בִּימֵ֣י (in the days) אָ֠חָז (of Ahaz) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹתָ֨ם (of Jotham), בֶּן־ (son) עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ (of Uzziah), מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), עָלָ֣ה (that came up) רְצִ֣ין (Rezin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אֲ֠רָם (of Aram), וּפֶ֨קַח (and Pekah) בֶּן־ (son) רְמַלְיָ֤הוּ (of Remaliah), מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (to Jerusalem) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (to war) עָלֶ֑יהָ (against it). וְלֹ֥א (Not) יָכֹ֖ל (he was able) לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם (to fight) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (against it).

2  וַיֻּגַּ֗ד (And it was declared) לְבֵ֤ית (to the house) דָּוִד֙ (of David), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), נָ֥חָֽה (has rested itself) אֲרָ֖ם (Aram) עַל־ (upon) אֶפְרָ֑יִם (Ephraim). וַיָּ֤נַע (And was shaken) לְבָבוֹ֙ (his heart) וּלְבַ֣ב (and the heart) עַמּ֔וֹ (of his people) כְּנ֥וֹעַ (as are shaken) עֲצֵי־ (the trees) יַ֖עַר (of the forest) מִפְּנֵי־ (from the face) רֽוּחַ׃ (of the wind).

3  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) יְשַׁעְיָהוּ֒ (Isaiah), צֵא־ (Go out) נָא֙ (now) לִקְרַ֣את (to meet) אָחָ֔ז (Ahaz), אַתָּ֕ה (you) וּשְׁאָ֖ר (and Shear-) יָשׁ֣וּב (jashub) בְּנֶ֑ךָ (your son), אֶל־ (toward) קְצֵ֗ה (the end) תְּעָלַת֙ (of the conduit) הַבְּרֵכָ֣ה (of the pool) הָעֶלְיוֹנָ֔ה (upper) אֶל־ (toward) מְסִלַּ֖ת (the road) שְׂדֵ֥ה (of the Field) כוֹבֵֽס׃ (of the Washer). 4  וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (And say) אֵ֠לָיו (to him): הִשָּׁמֵ֨ר (Take heed) וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט (and be quiet); אַל־ (not) תִּירָ֗א (be afraid) וּלְבָבְךָ֙ (and) אַל־ (not) יֵרַ֔ךְ (should you be soft), מִשְּׁנֵ֨י (because of the two) זַנְב֧וֹת (stubs) הָאוּדִ֛ים (of firebrands) הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים (smoldering) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these), בָּחֳרִי־ (with the burning) אַ֛ף (of the anger) רְצִ֥ין (of Rezin) וַאֲרָ֖ם (and Aram) וּבֶן־ (and the son) רְמַלְיָֽהוּ׃ (of Remaliah), 5  יַ֗עַן (because) כִּֽי־ (indeed) יָעַ֥ץ (has plotted) עָלֶ֛יךָ (against you) אֲרָ֖ם (Aram) רָעָ֑ה (evil)— אֶפְרַ֥יִם (with Ephraim) וּבֶן־ (and the son) רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ (of Remaliah)— לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 6  נַעֲלֶ֤ה (Let us go up) בִֽיהוּדָה֙ (against Judah) וּנְקִיצֶ֔נָּה (and treat it with contempt) וְנַבְקִעֶ֖נָּה (and split it apart) אֵלֵ֑ינוּ (unto ourselves) וְנַמְלִ֥יךְ (and we will make reign) מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ (as king) בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ (in its midst) אֵ֖ת (-) בֶּן־ (the son) טָֽבְאַֽל׃ס (of Tabeal). 7  כֹּ֥ה (Thus) אָמַ֖ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֑ה (YHWH):

לֹ֥א (Not) תָק֖וּם (will it stand),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) תִֽהְיֶֽה׃ (will it come to pass).

8  כִּ֣י (For) רֹ֤אשׁ (the head) אֲרָם֙ (of Aram) דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק (is Damascus),

וְרֹ֥אשׁ (and the head) דַּמֶּ֖שֶׂק (of Damascus) רְצִ֑ין (is Rezin),

וּבְע֗וֹד (and within) שִׁשִּׁ֤ים (sixty) וְחָמֵשׁ֙ (and five) שָׁנָ֔ה (years)

יֵחַ֥ת (will be shattered) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (Ephraim) מֵעָֽם׃ (as a people).

9  וְרֹ֤אשׁ (And the head) אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Ephraim) שֹׁמְר֔וֹן (is Samaria),

וְרֹ֥אשׁ (and the head) שֹׁמְר֖וֹן (of Samaria) בֶּן־ (is the son) רְמַלְיָ֑הוּ (of Remaliah).

אִ֚ם (If) לֹ֣א (not) תַאֲמִ֔ינוּ (you⁺ stand firm in faith),

כִּ֖י (surely) לֹ֥א (not) תֵאָמֵֽנוּ׃ס (will you⁺ stand firm).

The Sign of Immanuel
(Matthew 1:18–25)

10  וַיּ֣וֹסֶף (And continued) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) דַּבֵּ֥ר (to speak) אֶל־ (to) אָחָ֖ז (Ahaz), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 11  שְׁאַל־ (Ask) לְךָ֣ (for yourself) א֔וֹת (a sign) מֵעִ֖ם (from) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (your God); הַעְמֵ֣ק (make deep) שְׁאָ֔לָה (the request), א֖וֹ (or) הַגְבֵּ֥הַּ (make it high) לְמָֽעְלָה׃ (above).

12  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) אָחָ֑ז (Ahaz), לֹא־ (Not) אֶשְׁאַ֥ל (will I ask), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אֲנַסֶּ֖ה (will I test) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

13  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), שִׁמְעוּ־ (Hear) נָ֖א (now), בֵּ֣ית (O house) דָּוִ֑ד (of David)! הַמְעַ֤ט (Is it a small thing) מִכֶּם֙ (for you⁺) הַלְא֣וֹת (to weary) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men)? כִּ֥י (That) תַלְא֖וּ (you⁺ would weary) גַּ֥ם (also) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (my God)? 14  לָ֠כֵן (Therefore) יִתֵּ֨ן (will give) אֲדֹנָ֥י (the Lord) ה֛וּא (Himself) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) א֑וֹת (a sign): הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold) הָעַלְמָ֗ה (the virgin) הָרָה֙ (is conceiving) וְיֹלֶ֣דֶת (and is bringing forth) בֵּ֔ן (a son), וְקָרָ֥את (and she will call) שְׁמ֖וֹ (His name) עִמָּ֥נוּ (Immanu-) אֵֽל׃ (el). 15  חֶמְאָ֥ה (Curds) וּדְבַ֖שׁ (and honey) יֹאכֵ֑ל (he will eat), לְדַעְתּ֛וֹ (when he knows) מָא֥וֹס (to refuse) בָּרָ֖ע (the evil) וּבָח֥וֹר (and to choose) בַּטּֽוֹב׃ (the good). 16  כִּ֠י (For) בְּטֶ֨רֶם (before) יֵדַ֥ע (knows) הַנַּ֛עַר (the youth) מָאֹ֥ס (to reject) בָּרָ֖ע (the evil) וּבָחֹ֣ר (and to choose) בַּטּ֑וֹב (the good), תֵּעָזֵ֤ב (will be forsaken) הָאֲדָמָה֙ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אַתָּ֣ה (you) קָ֔ץ (dread) מִפְּנֵ֖י (because of) שְׁנֵ֥י (the two) מְלָכֶֽיהָ׃ (of her kings).

Judgment to Come
(Micah 1:1–7)

17  יָבִ֨יא (Will bring) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) עָלֶ֗יךָ (upon you) וְעַֽל־ (and upon) עַמְּךָ֮ (your people) וְעַל־ (and upon) בֵּ֣ית (the house) אָבִיךָ֒ (of your father) יָמִים֙ (days) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹא־ (not) בָ֔אוּ (have come) לְמִיּ֥וֹם (since the day) סוּר־ (of the turning away of) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (Ephraim) מֵעַ֣ל (from) יְהוּדָ֑ה (Judah)— אֵ֖ת (-) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) אַשּֽׁוּר׃פ (of Assyria).

18  וְהָיָ֣ה׀ (And it will come to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (in day) הַה֗וּא (that), יִשְׁרֹ֤ק (will whistle) יְהוָה֙ (that YHWH) לַזְּב֔וּב (for the fly) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בִּקְצֵ֖ה (at the farthest) יְאֹרֵ֣י (of the rivers) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt) וְלַ֨דְּבוֹרָ֔ה (and for the bee) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that is) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) אַשּֽׁוּר׃ (of Assyria).

19  וּבָ֨אוּ (And they will come) וְנָח֤וּ (and will rest) כֻלָּם֙ (all of them)

בְּנַחֲלֵ֣י (valleys) הַבַּתּ֔וֹת (in the desolate) וּבִנְקִיקֵ֖י (and in holes) הַסְּלָעִ֑ים (of the rocks),

וּבְכֹל֙ (and on all) הַנַּ֣עֲצוּצִ֔ים (the thorns) וּבְכֹ֖ל (and on all) הַנַּהֲלֹלִֽים׃ (the watering holes).

20  בַּיּ֣וֹם (In the day) הַה֡וּא (that) יְגַלַּ֣ח (will shave) אֲדֹנָי֩ (the Lord) בְּתַ֨עַר (with a razor) הַשְּׂכִירָ֜ה (that is hired), בְּעֶבְרֵ֤י (with those beyond) נָהָר֙ (the River), בְּמֶ֣לֶךְ (with the king) אַשּׁ֔וּר (of Assyria) אֶת־ (-) הָרֹ֖אשׁ (the head) וְשַׂ֣עַר (and the hair) הָרַגְלָ֑יִם (of the legs); וְגַ֥ם (and also) אֶת־ (-) הַזָּקָ֖ן (the beard) תִּסְפֶּֽה׃ס (He will sweep away). 21  וְהָיָ֖ה (And it will come to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (in the day) הַה֑וּא (that), יְחַיֶּה־ (will keep alive) אִ֛ישׁ (that a man) עֶגְלַ֥ת (a young cow) בָּקָ֖ר (of the herd) וּשְׁתֵּי־ (and two) צֹֽאן׃ (sheep); 22  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass) מֵרֹ֛ב (from the abundance) עֲשׂ֥וֹת (of producing) חָלָ֖ב (milk) יֹאכַ֣ל (that he will eat) חֶמְאָ֑ה (curds), כִּֽי־ (for) חֶמְאָ֤ה (curds) וּדְבַשׁ֙ (and honey) יֹאכֵ֔ל (will eat) כָּל־ (every one) הַנּוֹתָ֖ר (remaining) בְּקֶ֥רֶב (in the midst) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the land).

23  וְהָיָה֙ (And it will come to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (in the day) הַה֔וּא (that), יִֽהְיֶ֣ה (that there will be) כָל־ (in every) מָק֗וֹם (place) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (where) יִֽהְיֶה־ (are) שָּׁ֛ם (there) אֶ֥לֶף (a thousand) גֶּ֖פֶן (vines) בְּאֶ֣לֶף (at a thousand) כָּ֑סֶף (of silver), לַשָּׁמִ֥יר (briers) וְלַשַּׁ֖יִת (and thorns) יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ (there will be). 24  בַּחִצִּ֥ים (With arrows) וּבַקֶּ֖שֶׁת (and with the bow) יָ֣בוֹא (he comes) שָׁ֑מָּה (there), כִּי־ (for) שָׁמִ֥יר (briers) וָשַׁ֖יִת (and thorns) תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה (will become) כָל־ (all) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the land). 25  וְכֹ֣ל (And all) הֶהָרִ֗ים (the hills) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) בַּמַּעְדֵּר֙ (with the hoe) יֵעָ֣דֵר֔וּן (are kept in order) לֹֽא־ (not) תָב֣וֹא (will you go) שָׁ֔מָּה (there) יִרְאַ֖ת (for fear) שָׁמִ֣יר (of brier) וָשָׁ֑יִת (and thorn); וְהָיָה֙ (and it will come to be) לְמִשְׁלַ֣ח (for the sending forth) שׁ֔וֹר (of cattle) וּלְמִרְמַ֖ס (and for the treading) שֶֽׂה׃פ (of sheep).