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.

The gloom will be dispelled from her who was in anguish. In an earlier time he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the later time he will make it glorious, the way to the sea, beyond the 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 walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who have lived in the land of the shadow of death, the light has shone on them.

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 multiplied the nation; you have increased their joy. They rejoice before you like the joy at harvest time, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

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 the yoke of his burden, the beam across his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have shattered as on 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 treading in the tumult and the garments rolled in blood will be burned, fuel 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 been born, to us a son has been given; and the rule will be on his shoulder; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 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 government and of peace there will be no end, as he rules on the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and for evermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

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

The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell 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:

All the people will know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and with an arrogant heart,

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 fallen, but we will rebuild with chiseled stone; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

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

Therefore Yahweh will raise up against him Rezin, his adversary, and will stir up his enemies,

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.

the Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west. They will devour Israel with open mouth. In all these things, his anger does not subside; instead, his hand is still stretched out.

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

Yet the people will not turn to him who struck them, nor will they seek Yahweh of hosts.

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

Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, 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 leader and the noble man are the head; and the prophet that teaches lies is the tail.

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

Those who lead this people lead them astray, and those who are led by them are swallowed up.

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.

Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men nor will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows, since every one is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks foolish things. In all these things, his anger does not subside; instead, his hand is still stretched out.

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.

Wickedness burns like a fire; it devours the briers and thorns; it even burns the thickets of the forest, which rise in a column 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.

Through the fury of Yahweh of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire. No man spares his brother.

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:

They will grab food on the right hand but still be hungry; they will eat food on the left hand but will not be satisfied. Each will even eat the flesh of his own arm.

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 will devour Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together will attack Judah. In all these things, his anger does not subside; instead, his hand is still stretched out.