Isaiah 9
1 In earlier times he made the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali of small value, but after that he gave it glory, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Tetapi tidak selamanya akan ada kesuraman untuk negeri yang terimpit itu. Kalau dahulu TUHAN merendahkan tanah Zebulon dan tanah Naftali, maka di kemudian hari Ia akan memuliakan jalan ke laut, daerah seberang sungai Yordan, wilayah bangsa-bangsa lain.
2 The people who went in the dark have seen a great light, and for those who were living in the land of the deepest night, the light is shining.
Bangsa yang berjalan di dalam kegelapan telah melihat terang yang besar; mereka yang diam di negeri kekelaman, atasnya terang telah bersinar.
3 You have made them very glad, increasing their joy. They are glad before you as men are glad in the time of getting in the grain, or when they make division of the goods taken in war.
Engkau telah menimbulkan banyak sorak-sorak, dan sukacita yang besar; mereka telah bersukacita di hadapan-Mu, seperti sukacita di waktu panen, seperti orang bersorak-sorak di waktu membagi-bagi jarahan.
4 For by your hand the yoke on his neck and the rod on his back, even the rod of his cruel master, have been broken, as in the day of Midian.
Sebab kuk yang menekannya dan gandar yang di atas bahunya serta tongkat si penindas telah Kaupatahkan seperti pada hari kekalahan Midian.
5 For every boot of the man of war with his sounding step, and the clothing rolled in blood, will be for burning, food for the fire.
Sebab setiap sepatu tentara yang berderap-derap dan setiap jubah yang berlumuran darah akan menjadi umpan api.
6 For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace.
Sebab seorang anak telah lahir untuk kita, seorang putera telah diberikan untuk kita; lambang pemerintahan ada di atas bahunya, dan namanya disebutkan orang: Penasihat Ajaib, Allah yang Perkasa, Bapa yang Kekal, Raja Damai.
7 Of the increase of his rule and of peace there will be no end, on the seat of David, and in his kingdom; to make it strong, supporting it with wise decision and righteousness, now and for ever. By the fixed purpose of the Lord of armies this will be done.
Besar kekuasaannya, dan damai sejahtera tidak akan berkesudahan di atas takhta Daud dan di dalam kerajaannya, karena ia mendasarkan dan mengokohkannya dengan keadilan dan kebenaran dari sekarang sampai selama-lamanya. Kecemburuan TUHAN semesta alam akan melakukan hal ini.
8 The Lord has sent a word to Jacob, and it has come on Israel;
Tuhan telah melontarkan firman kepada Yakub, dan firman-Nya itu menimpa Israel.
9 And all the people will have experience of it, even Ephraim and the men of Samaria, who say in the pride of their uplifted hearts,
Biarlah seluruh bangsa itu mengetahuinya, yakni Efraim dan penduduk Samaria, yang berkata dengan congkaknya dan tinggi hatinya:
10 The bricks have come down, but we will put up buildings of cut stone in their place: the sycamores are cut down, but they will be changed to cedars.
"Tembok batu bata jatuh, akan kita dirikan dari batu pahat; pohon-pohon ara ditebang, akan kita ganti dengan pohon-pohon aras."
11 For this cause the Lord has made strong the haters of Israel, driving them on to make war against him;
Maka TUHAN membangkitkan para panglima Rezin melawan mereka, dan menggerakkan musuh-musuh mereka:
12 Aram on the east, and the Philistines on the west, who have come against Israel with open mouths. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Orang Aram dari timur, dan orang Filistin dari barat, mereka menelan Israel dengan mulut yang lebar. Sekalipun semuanya ini terjadi, murka-Nya belum surut, dan tangan-Nya masih teracung.
13 But the heart of the people was not turned to him who sent punishment on them, and they made no prayer to the Lord of armies.
Tetapi bangsa itu tidak kembali kepada Dia yang menghajarnya, dan mereka tidak mencari TUHAN semesta alam.
14 For this cause the Lord took away from Israel head and tail, high and low, in one day.
Maka TUHAN mengerat dari Israel kepala dan ekor, batang dan ranting pada satu hari juga.
15 The man who is honoured and responsible is the head, and the prophet who gives false teaching is the tail.
Tua-tua dan orang yang terpandang, itulah kepala, dan nabi yang mengajarkan dusta, itulah ekor.
16 For the guides of this people are the cause of their wandering from the right way, and those who are guided by them come to destruction.
Sebab orang-orang yang mengendalikan bangsa ini adalah penyesat, dan orang-orang yang dikendalikan mereka menjadi kacau.
17 For this cause the Lord will have no pleasure in their young men, and no pity on their widows and the children without fathers: for they are all haters of God and evil-doers, and foolish words come from every mouth. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Sebab itu Tuhan tidak bersukacita karena teruna-teruna mereka, dan tidak sayang kepada anak-anak yatim dan janda-janda mereka, sebab sekaliannya mereka murtad dan berbuat jahat, dan setiap mulut berbicara bebal. Sekalipun semuanya ini terjadi, murka-Nya belum surut, dan tangan-Nya masih teracung.
18 For evil was burning like a fire; the blackberries and thorns were burned up; the thick woods took fire, rolling up in dark clouds of smoke.
Sebab kefasikan itu menyala seperti api yang memakan habis puteri malu dan rumput, lalu membakar belukar di hutan sehingga tonggak asap berkepul-kepul ke atas.
19 The land was dark with the wrath of the Lord of armies: the people were like those who take men's flesh for food.
Oleh karena murka TUHAN semesta alam, terbakarlah tanah itu, dan bangsa itu menjadi makanan api; seorangpun tidak mengasihani saudaranya.
20 On the right a man was cutting off bits and was still in need; on the left a man took a meal but had not enough; no man had pity on his brother; every man was making a meal of the flesh of his neighbour.
Mereka mencakup ke sebelah kanan, tetapi masih lapar, mereka memakan ke sebelah kiri, tetapi tidak kenyang, setiap orang memakan daging temannya:
21 Manasseh was making a meal of Ephraim, and Ephraim of Manasseh; and together they were attacking Judah. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Manasye memakan Efraim, dan Efraim memakan Manasye, dan bersama-sama mereka melawan Yehuda. Sekalipun semuanya ini terjadi, murka-Nya belum surut, dan tangan-Nya masih teracung.
