Isaiah 9

1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun [Living together] and the land of Naphtali [My wrestling]; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan [Descender], Galilee [District, Circuit] of the nations.

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.

The people living in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

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

For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian [Strife].

5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Peleh-Yo 'etz [Wonderful-Counselor], El Gibbor [Mighty God], Avi-'Ad [Everlasting Father], Sar-Shalom [Prince of Peace].

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David [Beloved]’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with mishpat ·justice· and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] will perform this.

8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it has lighted on Israel.

'Adonay [Lord] sent a word into Jacob [Supplanter], and it falls on Israel [God prevails].

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

All the people will know, including Ephraim [Fruit] and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,

10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”

11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

Therefore Adonai will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

The Syrians in front, and the Philistines [To roll in dust (As an insult)] behind; and they will devour Israel [God prevails] with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

13 For the people turns not to him that smites them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies].

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

Therefore Adonai will cut off from Israel [God prevails] head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail.

The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.

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

For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

17 Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Therefore 'Adonay [Lord] will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have racham ·compassionate merciful love· on their orphans and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

18 For wickedness burns as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

Through Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies]’ wrath, the land is burned up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.

20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:

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

Manasseh [Causing to forget], Ephraim [Fruit]; and Ephraim [Fruit], Manasseh [Causing to forget]; and they together shall be against Judah [Praised]. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.