Isaiah 8:9-16

9You foreign nations must listen to this! Join together to fight. Shout as you go to battle. But you will never win! You people from countries that are far away, get ready for war. But you will be completely destroyed!

10Decide how you will fight the battle, but your plans will fail! What you decide to do will never happen. God is with us!

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.