Isaiah 9

1 For is there no gloom to her that was stedfast? Now the former hath lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but the latter hath dealt a more grievous blow by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in the district of the nations.

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.

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

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.

3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast increased their joy; they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

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.

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

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.

5 For every boot stamped with fierceness, and every cloak rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.

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.

6 For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom;

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.

7 That the government may be increased, and of peace there be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it through justice and through righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts doth perform this.

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.

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

The Lord has sent a word to Jacob, and it has come on Israel;

9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in arrogancy of heart:

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,

10 'The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but cedars will we put in their place.'

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.

11 Therefore the LORD doth set upon high the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies;

For this cause the Lord has made strong the haters of Israel, driving them on to make war against him;

12 The Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west; and they devour Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

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.

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

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.

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

For this cause the Lord took away from Israel head and tail, high and low, in one day.

15 The elder and the man of rank, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

The man who is honoured and responsible is the head, and the prophet who gives false teaching is the tail.

16 For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

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.

17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall He have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is ungodly and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh wantonness. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

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.

18 For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in thick clouds of smoke.

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.

19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land burnt up; the people also are as the fuel of fire; no man spareth his brother.

The land was dark with the wrath of the Lord of armies: the people were like those who take men's flesh for food.

20 And one snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry; and he eateth on the left hand, and is not satisfied; they eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

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.

21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together are against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

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.