Asiria, el instrumento del Señor
1El Señor me dijo: «Toma una tablilla grande y con un estilete común escribe sobre ella: “Tocante a Maher Salal Jasbaz”.8:1 En hebreo, Maher Salal Jasbaz significa Pronto al saqueo, presto al botín; también en v. 3. 2Yo convocaré como testigos confiables al sacerdote Urías y a Zacarías, hijo de Jeberequías».
3Luego tuve relaciones con la profetisa y ella concibió y dio a luz un hijo. Entonces el Señor me dijo: «Ponle por nombre Maher Salal Jasbaz. 4Antes de que el niño aprenda a decir “papá” y “mamá”, la riqueza de Damasco y el botín de Samaria serán llevados ante el rey de Asiria».
5El Señor volvió a decirme:
6«Por cuanto este pueblo ha rechazado
las mansas corrientes de Siloé
y se regocija con Rezín
y con el hijo de Remalías,
7el Señor está a punto de traer contra ellos
las impetuosas crecientes del río Éufrates:
al rey de Asiria con toda su gloria.
Rebasará todos sus canales,
desbordará todas sus orillas;
8pasará hasta Judá, la inundará
y crecerá hasta llegarle al cuello.
Sus alas extendidas, ¡oh Emanuel!,8:8 En hebreo, Emanuel significa Dios con nosotros; véase también v. 10.
cubrirán la anchura de tu tierra».
9¡Alcen el grito de guerra, pueblos, pues serán derrotados!
¡Escuchen, tierras distantes!
¡Prepárense para la guerra, pues serán destrozadas!
¡Prepárense para la guerra, pues serán destrozadas!
10Tracen su estrategia, pero será desbaratada;
propongan su plan, pero no se realizará,
porque Dios está con nosotros.8:10 Dios está con nosotros. Lit. Emanuel; véase v. 8.
Hay que temer a Dios
11El Señor me habló fuertemente y me advirtió que no siguiera el camino de este pueblo. Me dijo:
12«No digan ustedes que es conspiración
todo lo que llama conspiración esta gente;
no teman lo que ellos temen
ni se dejen asustar.
13Solo al Señor de los Ejércitos tendrán ustedes por santo,
solo a él deben honrarlo,
solo a él han de temerlo.
14Él será un santuario.
Pero será una piedra de tropiezo
para las dos casas de Israel;
una roca que los hará caer.
¡Será para los habitantes de Jerusalén
un lazo y una trampa!
15Muchos de ellos tropezarán;
caerán y serán quebrantados,
se les tenderán trampas y en ellas quedarán atrapados».
16Guarda bien el testimonio;
sella la Ley entre mis discípulos.
17El Señor ha escondido su rostro del pueblo de Jacob,
pero yo esperaré en él,
pues en él tengo puesta mi esperanza.
18Aquí me tienen, con los hijos que el Señor me ha dado. Somos en Israel señales y presagios del Señor de los Ejércitos, que habita en el monte Sión.
19Si alguien les dice: «Consulten a las médiums y a los espiritistas que susurran y musitan; ¿acaso no es deber de un pueblo consultar a sus dioses y a los muertos en favor de los vivos?», 20yo les digo: «¡Aténganse a la Ley y al testimonio!». Para quienes no se atengan a esto no habrá un amanecer. 21Ustedes habrán de enfurecerse cuando, angustiados y hambrientos, vaguen por la tierra. Levantando los ojos al cielo, maldecirán a su rey y a su Dios 22y, clavando la mirada en la tierra, solo verán aflicción, tinieblas y espantosa penumbra; ¡serán arrojados a una oscuridad total!
Isaiah and His Children Are Signs
1The Lord said to me, “Get a large sheet of paper. Write ‘Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz’ on it with a pen.” 2So I sent for Zechariah and Uriah the priest. Zechariah is the son of Jeberekiah. Zechariah and Uriah were witnesses for me whom I could trust. 3Then I went and slept with 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. 4The 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.’ ”
5The 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.
7So 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.
8They 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.”
9Sound the battle cry, you nations!
But you will be torn apart.
Listen, all you lands far away!
Prepare for battle! But you will be torn apart.
Prepare for battle! But you will be torn apart.
10Make 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.
11The Lord speaks to me while his powerful hand is on me. He is warning me not to live the way these people live. He says,
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.
13The Lord rules over all.
So you must think about him as holy.
You must have respect for him.
You must fear him.
14Then the Lord will be a holy place of safety for you.
But that’s not true for many people in Israel and Judah.
He will be a stone that causes them to trip.
He will be a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem
he will be a trap and a snare.
15Many of them will trip.
They will fall and be broken.
They will be trapped and captured.”
16Tie up and seal this warning that the Lord said to you through me.
Preserve among my followers what he taught you through me.
17I will wait for the Lord.
He is turning his face away from Jacob’s people.
I will put my trust in him.
18Here 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.
The Darkness Turns to Light
19There are people who get messages from those who have died. But these people only whisper words that are barely heard. Suppose someone tells you to ask for advice from these people. Shouldn’t you ask for advice from your God instead? Why should you get advice from dead people to help those who are alive? 20Follow what the Lord taught you and said to you through me. People who don’t speak in keeping with these words will have no hope in the morning. 21They 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 ask for bad things to happen to their king and their God. 22Then they will look at the earth. They’ll see nothing but suffering and darkness. They’ll see terrible sadness. They’ll be driven into total darkness.
