以賽亞書 9
1 但那受過痛苦的必不再見幽暗。 從前上帝使西布倫地和拿弗他利地被藐視，末後卻使這沿海的路，約旦河外，外邦人的加利利地得着榮耀。
However, those in Judah who have been distressed/worried will not [continue to] suffer. Previously, Yahweh humbled [the people in] the land [where the tribes of] Zebulun and Naphtali [live]. But in the future he will honor [the people who live in] that Galilee region, along the road between the Jordan [River] and the [Mediterranean] Sea, where [many] foreigners live.
2 在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了大光； 住在死蔭之地的人有光照耀他們。
[Some day, it will be as though] [MET] the people who walked in darkness will see a great light. A [great] light will shine on those who live in a land where they have great troubles/distress.
3 你使這國民繁多， 加增他們的喜樂； 他們在你面前歡喜， 好像收割的歡喜， 像人分擄物那樣的快樂。
[Yahweh], you will cause us people in Israel to rejoice; we will become very happy. We will rejoice about what you [have done] like [SIM] people rejoice when they harvest their crops, [or] like soldiers rejoice when they divide up among themselves the things that they have captured in a battle.
4 因為他們所負的重軛 和肩頭上的杖， 並欺壓他們人的棍， 你都已經折斷， 好像在米甸的日子一樣。
You will cause us to no longer be slaves [MET] [of those who captured us]; you will lift the heavy burdens from our shoulders. [It will be as though] you will break the rods of those who oppressed us, like you did when you destroyed [the army of] the Midian people-group.
5 戰士在亂殺之間所穿戴的盔甲， 並那滾在血中的衣服， 都必作為可燒的， 當作火柴。
The boots that the enemy soldiers have worn and their clothing which has stains of blood on them will all be burned up; they will only be fuel for a [big] fire.
6 因有一嬰孩為我們而生； 有一子賜給我們。 政權必擔在他的肩頭上； 他名稱為「奇妙策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和平的君」。
Another reason that we will rejoice is that a [special] child will be born for us; [a woman will give birth to] a son, who will be our ruler. And his names will be ‘Wonderful Counselor’, ‘Mighty/Powerful God’, ‘[Our] Everlasting Father’, and ‘Prince/Ruler [who enables us to have] Peace’.
7 他的政權與平安必加增無窮。 他必在大衛的寶座上治理他的國， 以公平公義使國堅定穩固， 從今直到永遠。 萬軍之耶和華的熱心必成就這事。
His rule, and the peace that he [brings/causes], will never end. He will rule [MTY] fairly and justly [DOU], like [his ancestor King] David did. This will happen because the Commander of the armies of angels greatly desires that it happen.
8 主使一言入於雅各家， 落於以色列家。
The Lord has warned the people of Israel, the descendants of Jacob; he has said that [he will punish] them.
9 這眾百姓，就是以法蓮 和撒馬利亞的居民，都要知道； 他們憑驕傲自大的心說：
And all the people in Samaria and [other places in] Israel know that, [but] they are very proud and arrogant [DOU]. They say, “Our city has been destroyed, but we will [take away the broken bricks from the ruins] [and] replace them with carefully cut stones. Our sycamore-fig trees have been cut down [by our enemies], but we will plant cedar trees [in their place].”
10 磚牆塌了，我們卻要鑿石頭建築； 桑樹砍了，我們卻要換香柏樹。
11 因此，耶和華要高舉利汛的敵人 來攻擊以色列， 並要激動以色列的仇敵。
But Yahweh brought the armies of [Assyria], the enemies of King Rezin [of Syria, to fight] against Israel and incited [other] nations [to attack Israel].
12 東有亞蘭人，西有非利士人； 他們張口要吞吃以色列。 雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消； 他的手仍伸不縮。
[The army of] Syria [came] from the east, and [the army of] Philistia [came] from the west, and they destroyed Israel [like a wild animal tears another animal apart and] [MET] devours it. But even after that happened, Yahweh was still very angry with them. He was ready to strike them with his fist again.
13 這百姓還沒有歸向擊打他們的主， 也沒有尋求萬軍之耶和華。
[But even though] Yahweh punished his people [like that], they [still] did not return to him [and worship him]. They [still] did not request the Commander of the armies of angels [to assist them].
14 因此，耶和華一日之間 必從以色列中剪除頭與尾， 棕枝與蘆葦－
Therefore, in one day Yahweh will get rid of [those who are like] Israel’s head and [those who are like] its tail; the [ones who are like] the top of the palm tree and the [ones who are like] the bottom.
15 長老和尊貴人就是頭， 以謊言教人的先知就是尾。
The leaders [DOU] of Israel are the head, and the prophets who tell lies are the tail.
16 因為，引導這百姓的使他們走錯了路； 被引導的都必敗亡。
The leaders of the people have misled them; they have caused the people that they are ruling to be confused.
17 所以，主必不喜悅他們的少年人， 也不憐恤他們的孤兒寡婦； 因為，各人是褻瀆的，是行惡的， 並且各人的口都說愚妄的話。 雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消； 他的手仍伸不縮。
For that reason, Yahweh is not pleased with the young men [of Israel], and he does not [even] act mercifully toward the widows and orphans, because they are all ungodly and wicked, and they all say things that are foolish. [But] Yahweh still is angry with them; he is ready to strike them with his fist again.
18 邪惡像火焚燒， 燒滅荊棘和蒺藜， 在稠密的樹林中着起來， 就成為煙柱，旋轉上騰。
When people do wicked things, it is like [SIM] a brushfire [that spreads rapidly]. It burns up [not only] briers and thorns; it starts a big fire in the forests from which clouds of smoke will rise.
19 因萬軍之耶和華的烈怒，地都燒遍； 百姓成為火柴； 無人憐愛弟兄。
[It is as though] the [whole] land is burned [black] because the Commander of the armies of angels is extremely angry with the Israeli people. They will become like [SIM] fuel for that great fire, and no one will try to rescue even his [own] brother [from that fire].
20 有人右邊搶奪，仍受飢餓， 左邊吞吃，仍不飽足； 各人吃自己膀臂上的肉。
Israeli people will attack their neighbors on the right [to get food from them], but they will still be hungry. They will [kill those who live in houses] on the left and eat their flesh, but their stomachs will still not be full.
21 瑪拿西吞吃以法蓮； 以法蓮吞吃瑪拿西， 又一同攻擊猶大。 雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消； 他的手仍伸不縮。
[People of the tribes of] Manasseh and Ephraim will attack each other, and [then] they will both attack the people of Judah. But even after that happens, Yahweh will still be very angry with them. He will be ready to strike them with his fist again.
