Isaiah continues to address Judah’s enemies. He challenges them to consult or plan together, possibly in the hope of further conquests. He tells them their plans will fail.

Take counsel together, but it will come to nought; speak a word, but it will not stand: These two lines are parallel. Take counsel together is literally “Plan a plan.” In Hebrew the verb and the object come from the same root. This is also true for the parallel clause speak a word, which is literally “speak a speech.” This structure in Hebrew puts emphasis on these clauses. Both of them are spoken as challenges to the nation’s enemies; there is a sarcastic or mocking tone in these words. Good News Translation expresses them well with “Make your plans! … Talk all you want to!” Another possibility for the first clause is “[Go ahead,] plan together!” Since speak a word is parallel to the first clause, it refers to the idea of planning together rather than some general conversation. Translators may need to make this clearer. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is helpful with “Agree on action.”

But it will come to nought means the plans of the nations will fail. Bible en français courant has “they will crumble,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “it shall be foiled.” Other possibilities are “but they will be fruitless” and “but they will have no effect.”

But it will not stand is synonymous with but it will come to nought. The verb here can mean “be established.” For this clause an idiomatic English expression that is close to the literal Hebrew is “it won’t get off the ground!” New Jerusalem Bible translates “they will come to nothing!” This clause looks back to the promise in 7.7: “It [the plans of the enemy] shall not stand.”

For God is with us: This gives the reason why the enemy attack will fail. It repeats the end of the previous verse, where it is an expression of assurance. Underlying these words of Isaiah is his theological perspective, namely, that Jerusalem will enjoy Yahweh’s eternal protection. It is part of Isaiah’s covenant theology. Therefore he can assure Ahaz of divine protection against any enemy attack.

For the translation of this verse consider:

• Go ahead and make your plans! They won’t work out.
Talk all you want; it will fail.
God is with us!

• Go ahead and plan together! It will prove fruitless.
Discuss all you want! It will never come to anything—
because God is with us!

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .