1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan- |
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death1 9:2 Or land of darkness
a light has dawned. |
3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder. |
4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor. |
5 Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire. |
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,2 9:6 Or Wonderful, Counselor Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. |
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. |
8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;
it will fall on Israel. |
9 All the people will know it-
Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-
who say with pride
and arrogance of heart, |
10 "The bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild with dressed stone;
the fig trees have been felled,
but we will replace them with cedars." |
11 But the LORD has strengthened Rezin's foes against them
and has spurred their enemies on. |
12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west
have devoured Israel with open mouth. |
13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them,
nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. |
14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail,
both palm branch and reed in a single day; |
15 the elders and prominent men are the head,
the prophets who teach lies are the tail. |
16 Those who guide this people mislead them,
and those who are guided are led astray. |
17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,
nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,
for everyone is ungodly and wicked,
every mouth speaks vileness. |
18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire;
it consumes briers and thorns,
it sets the forest thickets ablaze,
so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke. |
19 By the wrath of the LORD Almighty
the land will be scorched
and the people will be fuel for the fire;
no one will spare his brother. |
20 On the right they will devour,
but still be hungry;
on the left they will eat,
but not be satisfied.
Each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring3 9:20 Or arm : |
21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;
together they will turn against Judah. |
