The LORD shall come forth to reason with the senators and princes of his people, and shall say thus unto them, "It is ye that have burnt up my vineyard; the robbery of the poor is in your house.

In that day shall the Lord take away the gorgeousness of their apparel, and spangles, chains, partlets,

At that time shall their gates mourn and complain, and they shall sit as desolate folk upon the earth.

Then shall seven wives take hold of one man, and say, "We will lay all our meat and clothing together in common, only that we may be called thy wives, and that this shameful reproof may be taken from us."

After that time shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and mighty, and the fruit of the earth shall be fair and pleasant for those Israelites that shall spring thereof.

This he hedged, this he walled round about, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the midst of it builded he a tower, and made a wine press therein. And afterward when he looked that it should bring him grapes, it brought forth thorns.

What more could have been done for it, that I have not done? Wherefore than hath it given thorns, where I looked to have had grapes of it?

Well, now I shall tell you how I will do with my vineyard: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perish, and break down the wall, that it may be trodden under foot.

I will lay it waste, that it shall neither be twisted nor cut, but bear thorns and briers. I will also forbid the clouds, that they shall not rain upon it.

Woe be unto you that join one house to another, and bring one land so nigh unto another, that the poor can get no more ground. Will ye dwell upon the earth alone?

The LORD of Hosts roundeth me thus in mine ear: Shall not many greater and more gorgeous houses be so waste, that no man shall dwell in them?

Woe unto them that rise up early to use themselves in drunkenness, and yet at night are more superfluous with wine.

Therefore gapeth hell, and openeth her mouth marvelous wide: that their pride, boasting, and wealth, with such as rejoice therein, may descend into it.

But the LORD of Hosts, that holy God: shall be exalted and untouched, when he shall declare his equity and righteousness after this manner.

Then shall the sheep eat their appointed fodder; and the rich mens' lands, that were laid waste, shall strangers devour.

Woe be unto vain persons, that draw wickedness unto them with cords of vanity; and sin, as it were with a cart rope.

Which used to speak on this manner: "Let him make haste now, and go forth with his work, that we may see it! Let that counsel of the holy one of Israel come, and draw nigh, that we may know it!"

Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil: which make darkness light, and light darkness, that make sour sweet, and sweet sour.

Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding.

Woe be unto them that are cunning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness.

Therefore is the wrath of the LORD kindled also against his people, and he shaketh his hand at them: yea he shall smite so, that the hills shall tremble. And their carcasses shall lie in the open streets, like mire. And in all this, the wrath of God shall not cease, but he shall stretch his hand wider.

In that day they shall be so fierce upon them, as the sea. And if we look unto the land, behold, it shall be all darkness and sorrow. If we look to heaven: behold, it shall be dark with careful desperation.

In the same year that king Uzziah died, I saw the LORD sitting upon a high and glorious seat, and his train filled the temple.

Then I said, "O woe is me! For I am lost: inasmuch as I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell among people that hath unclean lips also. For mine eyes have seen the King and LORD of Hosts."

Harden the heart of this people, stop their ears, and shut their eyes, that they see not with their eyes, hear not with their ears, and understand not with their heart, and convert and be healed."

For the LORD shall take the men far away, so that the land shall lie waste.

It happened in the time of Ahaz the son of Jotham, which was the son of Uzziah, king of Judah: that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to besiege it, but won it not.

Now when the house of David - that is Ahaz - heard word thereof, that Syria and Ephraim were confederate together: His heart quaked, yea and the hearts also of his people, like as a tree in the field that is moved with the wind.

and say unto him, 'Take heed to thyself and be still, but fear not, neither be fainthearted for these two tails: that is, for these two smoking firebrands, the wrath and furiousness of Rezin the Syrian and Remaliah's son.

Because that the king of Syria, Ephraim, and Remaliah's son have wickedly conspired against thee,

Wherefore the LORD said, "Hearken, ye of the house of David: Is it so small a thing for you, to be grievous to men, but that ye should also be painful unto God?

He shall eat butter and honey, that he may have understanding to refuse the evil and to choose the good.

For before the child come to knowledge, to eschew the evil and chose the good, the land that thou so abhorest shall be desolate of both her kings.

"The LORD also shall send a time upon thee, upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, such as never came since the time that Ephraim departed from Judah, through the king of the Assyrians.

For at the same time shall the LORD whistle for the flies that are about the water of Egypt, and for the bees in the Assyrian land.

At the same time shall the LORD shave the hair of the head and the feet and the beard clean off, with the razor that he shall hire beyond the water: namely, with the king of the Assyrians.

Then because of the abundance of milk, he shall make butter and eat it. So that every one which remaineth in the land, shall eat butter and honey.

And as for all hills that now are hewn down, thou shalt not come upon them, for fear of briers and thorns. But the cattle shall be driven thither, and the sheep shall feed there."

After that went I unto the Prophetess, that now had conceived and born a son. Then said the LORD to me, "Give him this name: Mahershalahashbaz.

For why? Before the child shall have knowledge to say 'Abi' and 'Im'," - that is, father, and mother - "the riches of Damascus and the substance of Samaria shall be taken away, through the king of the Assyrians."

For the LORD chastised me, and took me by the hand, and warned me, saying unto me that I should not walk in the ways of this people. He said moreover,

Thus I wait upon the LORD that hath turned his face from the house of Jacob, and I look unto him.

And therefore if they say unto you, "Ask counsel at the soothsayers, witches, charmers and conjurers," then make them this answer: "Is there a people anywhere, that asketh not counsel at his God? Should they run unto the dead for the living?"

Even like as in time past it hath been well seen, that the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, wherethrough the sea way goeth over Jordan in to the land of Galilee, was at the first in little trouble, but afterward sore vexed.

The people that have dwelt in darkness, shall see a great light. As for them that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them shall the light shine.

Shalt thou multiply the people, and not increase the joy also? They shall rejoice before thee even as men make merry in harvest, and as men that have gotten the victory, when they deal the spoil.

And the people also of Ephraim, and they that dwell in Samaria, can say with pride and high stomachs, on this manner:

that the Syrians shall lay hold upon them before, and the Philistines behind, and so devour Israel with open mouth. After all this, the wrath of the Lord shall not cease, but yet his hand shall be stretched out still.

For the people turneth not unto him, that chastiseth them, neither do they seek the LORD of Hosts.

By the head, is understood the senator and honorable man, and by the tail, the Prophet that preacheth lies.

For all they which inform the people that they be in a right cause, such be deceivers. Such as men think also to be perfect among these, are but cast aways.

Woe be unto you that make unrighteous laws, and devise things, which be too hard for to keep:

wherethrough the poor are oppressed on every side, and the innocents of my people are therewith robbed of judgment: that widows may be your prey, and that ye may rob the fatherless.

What will ye do in time of the visitation and destruction, that shall come from far? To whom will ye run for help? Or to whom will ye give your honour, that he may keep it?

That ye come not among the prisoners, or lie among the dead? After all this shall not the wrath of the LORD cease, but yet shall his hand be stretched out still.

For I shall send him among those hypocritical people, among the people that have deserved my disfavour shall I send him: that he may utterly rob them, spoil them, and tread them down like the mire in the street.

Is not Calno as easy to win as Carchemish? Is it harder to conquer Hamath than Arpad? Or is it lighter to overcome Damascus than Samaria?"

For he standeth thus in his own conceit: "This do I, through the power of my own hand, and through my wisdom: For I am wise, I am he that removes the lands of the people, I rob their princes: and like one of the worthies I drive them from their high seats.

My hand hath found out the Hosts of the people, as it were a nest. And like as eggs, that were laid here and there, are gathered together: So do I gather all countries. And there is no man, that dare be so bold as to touch a feather, that dare open his mouth, or once whisper."

But doth the axe boost itself, against him that heweth therewith? Or doth the saw make any bragging, against him that ruleth it? That were even like as if the rod did exalt itself against him that beareth it: or as though the staff should magnify itself, as who say it were not wood.

But the light of Israel shall be that fire, and his Sanctuary shall be the flame, and it shall kindle, and burn up his thorns and briers in one day.

The trees also of his field shall be of such a number that a child may tell them.

After that day shall the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped out of the house of Jacob, seek no more comfort at him that smote them, but shall comfort themselves with faithfulness and truth in the LORD, the holy one of Israel.

For though thy people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, yet shall but the remnant of them only convert unto him. Perfect is the judgment of him that floweth in righteousness,

and therefore the LORD of Hosts shall perfectly fulfill the thing, that he hath determined in the midst of the whole world.

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD God of Hosts, "Thou my people, that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid for the king of the Assyrians: He shall wag his staff at thee, yea and beat thee with the rod, as the Egyptians did sometimes:

yet shall he remain at Nob that day. After that, shall he lift up his hand against the mount Zion, against the hill of Jerusalem.

Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down by the goat. Bullocks, Lions and cattle shall keep company together, so that a little child shall rule them.

but they both together shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the West: and spoil them together that dwell toward the East. The Edomites and the Moabites shall let their hands fall, and the Ammonites shall be obedient unto them.

And thus shall he make a way for his people, that remaineth from the Assyrians, like as it happened to the Israelites, what time they departed out of the land of Egypt.

So that then thou shalt say, "I will praise thee O LORD, that though thou were angry with me, yet thine anger is turned, and thou hast comforted me.

And ye shall say in that day, 'Give thanks unto the LORD: call on his name: make his deeds known among the heathen: remember that his name is high.'

Lift up! Sing unto the LORD, for he hath done excellently, and that is known throughout all the world.

Lift up the banner upon the high hill, call unto them; hold up your hand, that the princes may go in at the door.

they shall stand in fear, carefulness and sorrow shall come upon them, and they shall have pain, as a woman that travaileth with child. One shall ever be abashed of another, and their faces shall burn like the flame.

I will make a man dearer than fine gold, and a man to be more worth than a golden wedge of Ophir.

Moreover, I will so shake the heaven, that the earth shall remove out of her place. Thus shall it go with Babylon in the wrath of the LORD of Hosts in the day of his fearful indignation.

And Babylon, that glory of kingdoms and beauty of the Chaldeans' honor, shall be destroyed, even as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorra.

The people shall take them, and carry them home to their own land. And the house of Israel shall have them in possession for servants and maidens in the land of the LORD. They shall take those prisoners, whose captives they had been afore: and rule those that had oppressed them.

When the LORD now shall bring thee to rest; from the travail, fear, and hard bondage that thou wast laden withal.

Then shalt thou use this mockage upon the king of Babylon, and say: How happeneth that the oppressor leaveth off? Is the gold tribute come to an end?

Yea even the fir trees and Cedars of Lebanon rejoice at thy fall, saying, 'Now that thou art laid down, there come no more up to destroy us.'

that they may all - one after another - sing and speak unto thee. Art thou wounded also as we? Art thou become like unto us?

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, thou fair morning child! How hast thou gotten a fall, even to the ground; thou that didst subdue the people?

Yet dare I say, that thou shalt be brought down to the deep of hell.

They that seek thee, shall narrowly look upon thee, and think in themselves, saying, "Is this the man, that brought all lands in fear, and made the kingdoms afraid?

Is this he that made the world in a manner waste, and laid the cities to the ground, which let not his prisoners go home?"

and thou art cast out of thy grave like a wild branch - like as dead men's raiment that are shot through with the sword, as they that go down to the stones of the deep, as a dead corpse that is trodden under feet -

and art not buried with them. Even because that thou hast wasted thy land, and destroyed thy people. For the generation of the wicked shall be without honour, forever.

The same year that king Ahaz died, God threatened by Isaiah on this manner:

Rejoice not, thou whole Philistia, as though the rod of him that beateth thee were broken: For out of the serpent's root, there shall come an adder, and the fruit shall be a fiery worm.

Heshbon and Elealeh cried, that their voice was heard unto Jahaz. The worthies also of Moab bleared and cried for very sorrow of their minds.

Because the waters of Dimon were full of blood, I will add more unto Dimon: and lions upon the remnant of the land, and on them that are escaped.

Send the Lord of the world a lamb, from the rock that lieth toward the desert, unto the hill of the daughter Zion.

For as for the daughters of Moab, they shall be as a trembling bird, that is put out of her nest: for they shall carry them unto Arnon.

Gather your counsel, come together in judgment; cover us with your shadow in the midday, as the night doth: hide the chased, and betray not them that are fled.

Therefore shall Moab make lamentation because of the Moabites that shall be slain: yea, they shall wail all together. Because of the foundations of the city of brick shall ye complain, even ye lame people that are left only behind.

Mirth and cheer was gone out of the field and vineyards, insomuch that no man was glad nor sung. There went no treader into the winepress, their merry cheer was laid down.

And it shall come to pass, that when it is seen that Moab shall be made weary of his hill-chapels, he shall come to his temple to pray - but he shall not be made able.

So then, this is the saying that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.