Isaiah 9

1 For no fatigue [befalleth] him that oppresseth it; in the first time he made light of the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and at the last he will deal hard, with the way by the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, [up to] the Galilee 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 walk in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death—a light shineth brightly over them.

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, made great their joy: they rejoice before thee as with the joy in harvest, as men are glad 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 their burden, and the staff on their shoulder, the rod of their oppressor, hast thou broken, as on 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 all the weapons of the fighter in the battle's tumult, and the garment rolled in blood, shall be burnt, become food for 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 hath been given unto us, and the government is placed on his shoulders; and his name is called, Wonderful, counsellor of the mighty God, of the everlasting Father, the prince of peace,

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 For [promoting] the increase of the government, and for peace without end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to establish it and to support it through justice and righteousness, from henceforth and unto eternity: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do 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 A word hath the Lord sent against Jacob, and it hath alighted upon Israel.

The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel.

9 And experience it shall all the people together, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria; because they say, in the pride and haughtiness 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 down, but with hewn stones will we re-build: the sycamores are cut down, but with cedars will we replace them.”

“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 will the Lord strengthen the adversaries of Rezin above him, and will stir up his enemies;

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

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

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 And the people return not unto him that smiteth them, and the Lord of hosts do they not seek.

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

14 And the Lord cutteth off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, on one day.

Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

15 The ancient and honorable is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies is the tail.

The leader and the noble man are the head; and the prophet that teaches lies is the tail.

16 And the guides of this people are those that guide to error; and those that are led of them are misled.

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

17 Therefore will the Lord have no joy in their young men, and on their fatherless and widows will he have no mercy; for every one is a hypocrite and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh scandalous words. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand still remaineth stretched out.

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 like the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns: and it shall kindle [a flame] in the thickets of the forest, and they shall be shrouded by the wreaths 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 fury of the Lord of hosts is the land scorched, and the people have become as food for the fire; no man will spare 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 he snatcheth on the right hand, and is [yet] hungry; and he eateth on the left hand, and are not [yet] satisfied; they shall 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 Menasseh [against] Ephraim: and Ephraim [against] Menasseh; and they together against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand still remaineth stretched out.

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.