9
1 But
there shall be
no more gloom
for her who
was in anguish. In
the former time,
he brought
into contempt the land
of Zebulun and
the land of Naphtali;
but in the latter
time he has
made it glorious,
by the way
of the sea, beyond
the Jordan, Galilee of
the nations.
2 The
people who walked
in darkness have seen
a great light.
The light has shined
on those who lived
in the land
of the shadow
of death.
3 You
have multiplied the nation.
You have increased
their joy.
They rejoice before
you according to
the joy in harvest,
as men rejoice when
they divide the plunder.
4 For
the yoke of
his burden, and
the staff of
his shoulder, the rod
of his oppressor,
you have broken as
in the day
of Midian.
5 For
all the armor of
the armed man in
the noisy battle, and
the garments rolled in blood,
will be
for burning, fuel for
the fire.
6 For
a child is born to
us. A son is
given to us;
and the government
will be on
his shoulders. His name
will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
7 Of
the increase of
his government and
of peace there
shall be no end,
on David’s throne,
and on his kingdom,
to establish it,
and to uphold it
with justice and
with righteousness from
that time on, even
forever. The zeal of
the LORD of Armies
will perform this.
8 The Lord sent
a word into Jacob,
and it falls on
Israel.
9 All the people
will know,
including Ephraim and
the inhabitants of Samaria,
who say in pride
and in arrogance
of heart,
10 “The bricks
have fallen,
but we will build
with cut stone.
The sycamore fig trees have
been cut down,
but we will
put cedars in
their place.”
11 Therefore
the LORD will
set up on
high against him
the adversaries of Rezin,
and will stir up
his enemies,
12 The Syrians
in front,
and the Philistines behind;
and they
will devour Israel
with open mouth.
For all this,
his anger is not
turned away,
but his hand
is stretched out
still.
13 Yet
the people have not
turned to him
who struck them,
neither have they sought
the LORD of Armies.
14 Therefore
the LORD will cut
off from Israel
head and tail,
palm branch and reed, in
one day.
15 The elder
and the honorable
man is the head,
and the prophet
who teaches lies
is the tail.
16 For
those who lead
this people lead
them astray;
and those who
are led by them
are destroyed.
17 Therefore
the Lord will
not rejoice over their young men,
neither will he
have compassion on
their fatherless and widows;
for everyone is profane
and an evildoer,
and every mouth speaks folly.
For all this
his anger is
not turned away,
but his hand
is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns like
a fire.
It devours the briers
and thorns;
yes, it kindles in
the thickets of
the forest,
and they roll upward
in a column
of smoke.
19 Through
the LORD of
Armies’ wrath, the land
is burned up;
and the people
are the fuel for
the fire.
No one spares
his brother.
20 One
will devour on
the right hand,
and be hungry;
and he will eat
on the left
hand, and they
will not
be satisfied.
Everyone will eat
the flesh of his
own arm:
21 Manasseh eating Ephraim and
Ephraim eating Manasseh, and they together will be against Judah.
For all this his anger is not turned away,
but his hand is stretched out still.