10 Later, Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz, 11 “Ask your god Yahweh for a sign of confirmation for yourself. Request an incredible miracle.”
12 “No, I won’t ask,” Ahaz replied. “I refuse to test Yahweh.”
13 Then Yeshayah (Isaiah) said, “You descendants of David need to listen. It’s bad enough that you’re wearing out the people, but why are you also annoying my god? 14 Because of that, my master will take the initiative himself to choose a sign: listen, a young, virgin woman[fn] will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and will name him ‘Imanu-El’ (which means ‘God is with us’.).[ref] 15 ⇔He’ll know how to refuse evil and do good by the time that he can eat yoghurt and honey. 16 However, before the child is old enough to do that, the countries of the two kings that you’re afraid of, will become deserted.
17 But instead, Yahweh will bring the Assyrian king to attack you and your people, and David’s dynasty will be under its greatest stress since Yisrael (Israel; Heb. Efrayim) broke away from Yehudah (Judah).”
18 When that happens, Yahweh will whistle for a fly that’s in Mitsrayim’s (Egypt’s) distant streams, and for a bee that’s in Ashur (Assyria). 19 They’ll all come and settle down in deserted valleys and cracks in the rocks, and in all the thornbushes and watering holes.
20 At that time, my master will use a hired razor from beyond the Perat (Euphrates) to shave the head and legs of the Assyrian king, and to remove his beard.
21 In those days, a farmer will preserve a single, young cow alive, and a couple of sheep. 22 However, because they’ll produce so much milk, they’ll produce yoghurt, because everyone left in the country will eat yoghurt and honey.
23 During that period, every block of land with a thousand grapevines that would have been worth a thousand silver coins, will just be full of thistles and thorns. 24 Because it’ll be so overgrown with briers, men will hunt there with their bows and arrows. 25 All the hills that had been cultivated, will now be off limits because of all the thistle and thorns, and sheep and cattle will be left there to tread it down.
