Isaiah 7:4-13

4Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

5Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying,

6“Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.”

7Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘It will not take place, it will not happen,

8for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.

9The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ ”

10Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz,

11“Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?