Isaiah, 9

1. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on the inhabitants of a country in shadow dark as death light has blazed forth.

1. Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

2. You have enlarged the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest time, as they exult when they are dividing the spoils.

2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

3. For the yoke that weighed on it, the bar across its shoulders, the rod of its oppressor, these you have broken as on the day of Midian.

3. Thou hast multiplied the nation, [and] not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, [and] as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4. For all the footgear clanking over the ground and all the clothing rolled in blood, will be burnt, will be food for the flames.

4. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

5. For a son has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and dominion has been laid on his shoulders; and this is the name he has been given, 'Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace'

5. For every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire.

6. to extend his dominion in boundless peace, over the throne of David and over his kingdom to make it secure and sustain it in fair judgement and integrity. From this time onwards and for ever, the jealous love of Yahweh Sabaoth will do this.

6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7. The Lord has launched a word at Jacob and it has fallen on Israel;

7. Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

8. and the people will all soon know it, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in the pride of their arrogant hearts,

8. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

9. 'The bricks have fallen down but we shall rebuild with dressed stone; the sycamores have been felled but we shall replace them with cedars.'

9. And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

10. But, against them, Yahweh has raised their foe Razon, he has whipped up their enemies,

10. The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change [them into] cedars.

11. Aram to the east, Philistines to the west, to devour Israel with gaping jaws. After all this, his anger is not spent. No, his hand is still raised!

11. Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

12. But the people would not come back to him who struck them, they would not seek out Yahweh Sabaoth;

12. The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

13. hence Yahweh has topped and tailed Israel, cutting off palm and reed in a single day.

13. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

14. (The 'top' is the elder and the man of rank; the 'tail' is the prophet teaching lies.)

14. Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

15. This people's leaders have led them astray, and those who are led by them are swallowed up.

15. The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail.

16. Hence the Lord will no longer take delight in their young people, or pity on their orphans and widows, since all of them are godless and evil, and everything they say is madness. After all this, his anger is not spent. No, his hand is still raised!

16. For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed.

17. Yes, wickedness has been burning like a fire, devouring bramble and thorn-bush, setting the forest thickets ablaze -- up they go in billowing smoke!

17. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

18. The country has been set on fire by the fury of Yahweh Sabaoth, and the people are like food for the flames. No one spares a thought for his brother.

18. For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.

19. They have sliced to the right and are still hungry, they have eaten to the left and are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm.

19. Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

20. Manasseh devours Ephraim, Ephraim Manasseh, together they turn against Judah. After all this, his anger is not spent. No, his hand is still raised!

20. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

21.

21. Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.