Isaiah 8:11-20

11Now the Lord spoke to me with great power. He warned me that I must not be like the other people in Judah. He said,

12‘Those people are talking about an agreement to turn against the rulers. But do not agree with what they say. Do not be afraid of the things that frighten them. Do not be afraid, as they are.

13Instead, you should understand that the Lord Almighty has all authority. You should respect him as holy and be afraid of him.

14He will be a safe place for you. But for both nations in Israel he will become like a stone that causes people to fall to the ground. He will be like a rock that makes them fall down. He will take hold of the people who live in Jerusalem, like a trap that catches a bird.

15Many people will fall against that rock. They will fall to the ground and it will hurt them. They will become caught in a trap.’

16Tie a string round the paper where I have written this. Keep it safe as a true message. Give it to my disciples, to teach them.

17I will wait for the Lord to do what he says. He has turned away from the descendants of Jacob. But I will trust him to do what is right.

18Look! Here I am, with the children that the Lord has given to me. We are messages from the Lord Almighty who lives on Mount Zion. We are messages to Israel's people.

19They will say to you, ‘Go to the people who speak to the spirits of dead people. Go to the magicians who speak magic words. They will tell you what you should do. People should ask their gods and spirits to give them messages. People who are alive should ask the spirits of dead people to help them.’

20When they say that to you, remember my teaching. Tell them what I have said will happen. People who talk like that are completely in the dark. There is no truth in what they say.