Yahweh again spoke to Ahaz:
‘Ask for yourself a sign from Yahweh your God.
Make it deep, to She’ol,
or make it lofty to the heights.’
Ahaz said, ‘I won’t ask, I won’t test Yahweh.’
He said, ‘Listen, please, household of David.
Is it too small for you, wearying human beings, that you weary my God as well?
Therefore the Lord – he will give you a sign.
There – a girl is pregnant and she’s going to give birth to a son,
and she’ll name him Immanu El [‘God Is with Us’].
He will eat curds and syrup
knowing how to reject the bad and choose the good.
Because before the boy knows how to reject the bad and choose the good,
the land whose two kings you’re dismayed at will be abandoned.’
Goldingay, John The Bible for Everyone . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O thou, who art the light of the minds that know thee,
the life of the souls that love thee,
and the strength of the wills that serve thee;
help us so to know thee that we may truly love thee;
so to love thee that we may fully serve thee,
whom to serve is perfect freedom.
Amen