1In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it –2at that time the Lord spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, ‘Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.’ And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.3Then the Lord said, ‘Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush,[1]4so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared – to Egypt’s shame.5Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame.6In that day the people who live on this coast will say, “See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?” ’
1Sargon, the king of Assyria, sent his highest commander to the city of Ashdod. He attacked it and captured it.2Three years earlier the LORD had spoken to Isaiah, the son of Amoz. The LORD had said, ‘Take off the rough clothing you are wearing. And take off your sandals.’ So Isaiah did. He went around barefoot and naked.3After Ashdod was captured, the LORD said, ‘My servant Isaiah has gone around barefoot and naked for three years. He is a sign and reminder to Egypt and Cush about what will happen to them.4The king of Assyria will lead prisoners away from Egypt and Cush. Young people and old people alike will be taken away. Like Isaiah, they will be barefoot and naked. Their backsides will be bare. So the Egyptians will be put to shame.5People trusted in Cush to help them. They boasted about what Egypt could do for them. But they will lose heart and be put to shame.6At that time the people who live on the coast of Philistia will speak up. They will say, “See what has happened to those we depended on! We ran to them for help. We wanted them to save us from the king of Assyria. Now how can we escape?” ’