16. But even before that happens, the lands of the two kings you are afraid of will be completely destroyed.
17. "The Lord will also bring the king of Assyria against you. And he will bring him against your people and the whole royal family. That will be a time of trouble unlike any since the people of Ephraim broke away from Judah."
18. At that time the Lord will whistle for the Egyptians. They will come like flies from the streams of Egypt. He will also whistle for the Assyrians. They will come from their country like bees.
19. All of them will come and camp in the deep valleys. They will camp in caves in the rocks. And they'll camp near bushes and water holes.
20. At that time the Lord will use the Assyrians to punish you. Ahaz had hired them earlier from east of the Euphrates River. Now their king will be like a razor in the Lord's hand. He will shave the hair from your head and legs. He will also shave off your beards.
21. At that time a man will only be able to keep one young cow and two goats alive.
22. But they will give enough milk and butter to live on. Everyone who is left alive in the land will have nothing but butter and honey to eat.
23. The land used to have vineyards with 1,000 vines worth 25 pounds of silver. But soon the whole land will be covered with thorns and bushes.
24. Men will go there to hunt with bows and arrows. That's because it will be covered with bushes and thorns.