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. But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, 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 who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has 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, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, 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 the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian.

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 boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the 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 to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 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 of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do 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 has sent a word against Jacob, and it will light 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 will know, E'phraim and the inhabitants of Sama'ria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart:

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

10. "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."

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. So the LORD raises adversaries against them, and stirs up their enemies.

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

12. The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still.

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

13. The people did not turn to him who smote them, nor seek the LORD of hosts.

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

14. So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day --

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

15. the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies 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 those who lead this people lead them astray, and those who are led by them are swallowed up.

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 does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away and 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 burns like a fire, it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column 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 the land is burned, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no man spares 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. They snatch on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours his neighbor's flesh,

21.

21. Manas'seh E'phraim, and E'phraim Manas'seh, and together they are against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still.